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Beyoncé: Life Is But a Dream

Beyoncé: Life Is But a Dream

Documentary · 2013

Life Is But a Dream is a HBO documentary about the life of US singer Beyoncé Knowles during the years 2011 and 2012 and on the recording of her fifth album. The film was directed by Beyoncé herself. The film shows Beyoncé from intimate moments of her pregnancy to behind the scenes and rehearsals of the main concerts of that time.

Movie details

Beyoncé: Life Is But a Dream

2013 Documentary 1h 30m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.8 / 10

Community rating

Life Is But a Dream is a HBO documentary about the life of US singer Beyoncé Knowles during the years 2011 and 2012 and on the recording of her fifth album. The film was directed by Beyoncé herself. The film shows Beyoncé from intimate moments of her pregnancy to behind the scenes and rehearsals of the main concerts of that time.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Beyoncé: Life Is But a Dream?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Ed Burke · Beyoncé

Written by

Beyoncé · Ed Burke · Ilan Benatar

Beyoncé

Beyoncé

Self

JAŸ-Z

JAŸ-Z

Self

Tina Knowles

Tina Knowles

Self

Solange

Solange

Self (archive footage)

Kelly Rowland

Kelly Rowland

Self (archive footage)

Michelle Williams

Michelle Williams

Self (archive footage)

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga

Self (archive footage)

Court is in session

Put Beyoncé: Life Is But a Dream on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Auteur Devotee

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.