Andrea Bocelli has one of the most recognizable voices in the world, which has been heard by millions of people. The image of a man who can’t see sharing so much of himself for those everywhere to hear is a powerful one, and Bocelli’s isolated performances during the COVID-19 pandemic were particularly resonant and impactful. The documentary Andrea Bocelli: Because I Believe explores more of the man and the journey that his life has taken to catapult him into one of the most public-facing professions, allowing him to reveal part of himself through intimate, honest conversations and plentiful past recordings and interviews with those who know and knew him best.
Filmmaker Cosima Spender presents this film as a rather straightforward portrait of Bocelli, showing him performing without much initial context and then interweaving shots of him singing with archive footage of concert and television appearances. Famous figures like the late Luciano Pavarotti are shown as Bocelli measures his ascent within the industry from being an admirer of greats like him to being considered a contemporary, and those closest to Bocelli still, namely his wife Veronica Berti, who also serves as his manager, offer their insights into what drives this incredible artist.
There are no major revelations or earth-shattering discoveries to be found in this film, but it’s something that fans of Bocelli’s should welcome, a chance to get to know him even a little better and to understand the attitude that goes into his work. The passion he has when he sings can be felt by the listener, and it’s refreshing to know that, as far as this biography communicates, that passion is indeed genuine. This is not a film that turns him into a saint free from any vices, but it does trace a course that shows a remarkable commitment to his craft and an impressive continued ability to retain humility even in the face of constant praise.
Those who enjoy listening to Bocelli sing, which should be most of the world’s population, would likely have been satisfied with an edited series of concert excerpts since Bocelli’s performances are indeed moving. But this film chooses to go deeper and to probe the history of Bocelli’s life, beginning with his childhood memories and his relationships with his family members. It’s particularly enlightening to hear from his brother Alberto, who is able to shed additional light on what he was like as a child and how his injury at age twelve, which left him blind, both changed and didn’t change who he was as a person.
For such an accomplished musician, Bocelli is actually quite young, turning just sixty-seven years old this week. That suggests there’s more of his story to be written, and he shows few signs of slowing down anytime soon. Listening to his predecessors, contemporaries, and the family members and friends who know him best adds information on his character and his motivation to keep singing and regaling adoring audiences with the magic of his voice. This feels like a rare opportunity to peek behind the curtain and see a man who, as far as this film suggests, isn’t all that different from the composed opera singer so many watch and hear from packed venues and far afar on their screens.
Audiences may still be left with some questions after watching this film, which does cover Bocelli’s first marriage and other significant events from his life, but it’s overall quite an affirming picture of a life and career that the likely next step for anyone who has watched will be to search for clips of his most memorable performances to get to hear this man sing without interruption. Above all, Bocelli’s faith does seem quite strong, and this film is a fitting testament to someone who, on a regular basis, offers transformative listening experiences for others.
Movie Rating: 7/10
