Powerful Netflix trailer for new Beyoncé documentary promotes kindness and honesty within black culture using Maya Angelou quote
Homecoming: A Film By Beyoncé | Official Trailer | Netflix
This intimate, in-depth look at Beyoncé’s celebrated 2018 Coachella performance reveals the emotional road from creative concept to cultural movement. Premie…
Powerful Netflix trailer for new Beyoncé documentary promotes kindness and honesty within black culture using Maya Angelou quote
The teaser trailer for “Homecoming: A Film By Beyoncé” is colourful, forceful and is getting us way too excited for the release of the feature film.
“Tell the truth; to yourself first, and to the children.” The trailer for upcoming Beyoncé documentary borrows the words of legendary civil rights activist Maya Angelou to symbolize Beyoncé’s vision and sense of responsibility surrounding that iconic 2018 Coachella performance.
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Giving a behind-the-scenes look into the creative development and design of Beyoncé’s memorable performance, “Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé” will release exclusive footage of the creative process, from the dancers and musicians to the concepts and inspiration behind the show.
Beyoncé’s mind-blowing routine at Coachella, California, last year primarily focused on black history and culture, specifically amongst historically black colleges and universities, music, and feminism. There’s no doubt the new Netflix film will reveal the secret behind the festival’s biggest performance ever and just why it resonated with so many people. The breathtaking concert became legendary and etched into history.
The trailer released by Netflix on April 8th first teases a look into the extensive preparation surrounding Coachella 2018 whilst a wise quote from the late Maya Angelou narrates the scenes. Aside from honouring Maya and her influence in the civil rights movement, it’s clear when listening to her words why Maya was chosen to represent Beyoncé’s documentary.
The trailer opens with a heart-warming scene of Beyoncé standing in the middle of the Coachella stage at the start of her set and Maya’s voiceover declares “What I really want to do is be a representative of my race, of the human race.” In this introduction to the film, we are shown the pressures on African American artists like Beyoncé and the duty they feel to represent the black community.
Elevated on stage alone, about to embark on one of the biggest performances of all time, Beyoncé looks out across her devoted hoard of fans and she smiles gratefully, as though all of her hard work has paid off. In her Coachella performance, like Maya describes, Beyoncé takes on the heavy responsibility of representing and artistically expressing black culture and music and she is clearly thankful for being able to tell her story and inspire people.
Over the backdrop of the dancers and musicians preparing tirelessly for the big night, Maya discusses the importance of promoting kindness, wisdom and generosity, especially when you are in an influential and powerful position. In the rehearsal rooms, the performers look like one big family. The atmosphere beautifully promotes friendship and community, which definitely came across in the final performance and made the execution all the more precise and passionate.
Maya’s narration continues and is perfectly paired with the behind-the-scenes footage. The best example of this is when the narration discusses going “home without any fear” and clips of Beyoncé with her family are shown. Blue Ivy, Beyoncé’s 7-year-old daughter, is seen whipping her braided hair back and forth in front of the Coachella dancers with sassy concentration. This is reminiscent of some of the many themes of Beyoncé’s performance, such as sisterhood and female empowerment. It’s clear that Beyoncé is raising her children to understand the importance of being confident and creative. The shots of Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s twin babies are also so sweet to watch because it shows how strong and family-focused the couple are.
Then we come to the iconic quote in which Maya encourages telling the truth (“to yourself first, and to the children”). On screen we see Beyoncé looking sweaty but satisfied and innocently fondling her hair braid, which is another emblem of black culture.
Maya Angelou knew the importance of teaching our children the truth and, on that note, the trailer displays flashing images of the Coachella performers, some of which were students of historically black colleges and universities. All of the photographed performers have a strong and determined gaze, unapologetically confident and firm. At this point the trailer kicks up the pace with heavy drums and chanting to replicate a college atmosphere, followed by various unforgettable moments of the famous Coachella show.
The stage explodes in vibrant colours and aggressive dance numbers, whilst quotes of the lavish reviews Beyoncé received for the show are displayed intermittently, praising her expression of student culture, black history and political commentary. So, as well as the planning, choreography and production of the Coachella performance, we’re also going to get to see some of the best, visually stunning and musically diverse, moments of the final product in this documentary.
We could not be more thrilled that Netflix is releasing this film because Beyoncé’s Coachella set inspired so many of us last year, and gave so many talented people the chance to shine whilst returning Beyoncé to her deserving spotlight. As well as honoring all of the hard work that went into the show, we’re also getting an insight into the meaning behind all of those symbolic images and audio samples from none other than Queen B herself.
“Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé” will be available to stream on Netflix on April 17th.
