Directed by Nick Broomfield & Rudi Dolezal
UK, Documentary, 105 minutes

Celebrated director Nick Broomfield is known for his ambush style documentary work such as the conspiracy-fueled Kurt & Courtney and the devastating Aileen Wuornos: The Selling of a Serial Killer. Partnering with Rudi Dolezal on Whitney: Can I Be Me has seemingly tempered Broomfield’s typical approach as the documentary that focuses on the life and tragic death of Whitney Houston is a more straightforward and sincere portrait than an investigative caper. Regardless of method, the films all have in common the ability to mesmerize by providing a haunting and revealing peak behind the curtain in regards to fascinating and enigmatic figures.
Whitney: Can I Be Me skillfully covers Houston’s background and rise to fame, focusing on the controlling record industry, her marriage to Bobby Brown and, most-talked-about, the intimate 18-year relationship that Houston had with best friend, creative director and lover Robyn Crawford. Compiled of current and archival interviews, breathtaking performances and never-before-seen footage, the documentary is captivating for Whitney fans and non-fans alike. By the film’s end there is no question, Houston possessed a genuine and rare talent and tenacity, she was a veracious superstar, avoidably lost too soon and not simply the caricature of excess that tabloid headlines reduce her to. SHOUT is proud to open the 2017 festival in cinematic celebration of a true icon.