Kylie Review: Directed by Michael Harte, Netflix’s docuseries follows the extraordinary life and career of global pop icon Kylie Minogue. Featuring appearances from Dannii Minogue, Jason Donovan, Nick Cave, Pete Waterman and several longtime collaborators, the documentary comprises three episodes that last for almost an hour each. Though on first impression, it seems like any other celebrity biography replete with nostalgic elements and hits, the film can also be seen as one which focuses on issues of survival, loneliness, and living in the public eye.
Kylie Review
In terms of style, Netflix’s Kylie documentary is quite laid-back and pensive, letting her memories, emotions, and archival footage do all the talking. The first episode mostly concentrates on her initial fame from Neighbours and moving towards pop music. Of course, this is rather predictable since everyone who knows anything about Kylie will know how she reached success. Nevertheless, the film manages to keep things interesting with some interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, and people who actually lived through those times.
The documentary is also able to highlight just how fast Kylie’s fame came to consume her. Within a split second, the girl went from being an up-and-coming actress from Australia who was trying to sing a song to a worldwide pop star. To me, the most interesting part of all of this was the way in which these individuals spoke so freely about moulding Minogue into their image during that time. Unbeknownst to them, they were actually highlighting how easily disposed of young female singers were during that time period.
The most intriguing part comes in the second episode, when Kylie gets much more engaging from an emotional perspective. The film does not focus exclusively on her achievements in music but starts delving into the emotional aspect of being in the spotlight. It was quite hard to sit through some of the talks regarding the criticisms she endured throughout the 1990s. Minogue had been ridiculed because of her looks, voice, and attempts to become a better singer.
The method used by the Netflix documentary Kylie that stood out for me was that of using archive footage in order to reveal such sexism and not just talk about it. For instance, you will get to see the interviewers who disregard her comments and the tabloid articles that consider her personal issues to be entertaining. This helps because it does not have to explain too much.
Her relationship with Michael Hutchence is yet another part of the Kylie docuseries, which helps the viewer understand the emotions involved. Minogue mentions it with warmth, and the tone that she uses makes the listener feel the sadness that has accompanied her all throughout her life after that period. Instead of making it a sensational story, it is treated by the filmmakers as a very significant emotional event in her life, both as a person and an artist. One of the most heart-warming moments of the film is those quiet moments when she becomes herself again.
The final episode is by far the most powerful element of the documentary. At this stage, Kylie no longer seems like just another typical interview with a celebrity; she becomes one of the most inspiring accounts of human perseverance. The way she describes her fight against breast cancer is very touching because she focuses on her internal battle, apart from the physical aspects that everyone else knows about.
The thing that truly shocked me was finding out about her second cancer diagnosis in 2021, which she had been hiding from everyone for many years. It totally shifts the tone of the whole documentary because it is very hard for her to talk about it. Here, there is no music or editing that tries to build up emotions. Her emotionality is powerful enough to be effective without anything else. It is definitely one of the most emotional moments of the whole documentary and possibly the reason for its impact on viewers.
However, the Netflix docuseries Kylie does not lose sight of the fact that it is supposed to be celebrating her as an entertainer. From “Spinning Around” to “Padam Padam,” the documentary shows us how she continually reinvents herself, yet always manages to keep the same identity of a pop artist. One aspect of the documentary that I enjoyed was the fact that it mentions her faithful LGBTQ fan base that helped keep her alive when she faced tough times.
But there are some issues with the documentary. The pace of the first episode may be quite repetitive if one is already aware of the early career stages of Kylie Minogue. Moreover, some interviews look quite rehearsed, and even if some people want to speak their mind, they might be wary of saying something controversial. I wish the documentary had looked into the creative process of her more thoroughly.
However, all these factors can never eclipse the emotional truthfulness that lies at the heart of the show. The reason why this series works well is that it has an understanding of its protagonist beyond her glamorous facade. This is not just another film documenting her success and fame. It is a story of survival, the survival of someone who has been under constant scrutiny for decades.
Netflix Kylie Review: Summing Up
Overall, Kylie is a highly considered and emotive, but unexpectedly personal, documentary that provides more than simple reminiscence. Whether you have been following Kylie Minogue throughout your life or not, there are elements of humanness that will draw you into the docuseries. And if you love her music, then it will only increase your respect for her.
