Lewis Capaldi: How I’m Feeling Now follows the titular musician’s journey from pub gigs to viral stardom and eventual struggles with anxiety and Tourette’s.
Story
Lewis Capaldi sits down in front of the camera, along with his parents and professionals that work with him, talking about the journey he’s had from his early days to the explosive rise to fame, as well as a host of issues that afflict him as he struggles to contend with it all.
It starts at Whitburn, Scotland, where Capaldi and his parents talk about his origins at different gigs that his father would drive him to. Later, he’d go on to write original songs, one of which would gain internet virality, consequently exploding into stardom.
The awards come, and so do accolades, before Covid-19 strikes and he’s forced into home, where he begins working on the second album. Several hitches and setbacks later, he’s out on the tours again, only for another huge hurdle to begin weighing on him.
His Tourette’s worsens and gnaws at his health to the point it hurts him and stops him mid-way through performances on the stage. When it becomes to big a hurdle, his parents decide it best for him to take a step back and a break from further touring as well as working on the next album.
Four months later, and Lewis Capaldi is back. In spite of the issues that persist, the musician is ready to take them on with a new understanding of them and the support from his loved ones that makes it all possible.
Positives
Lewis Capaldi’s journey from zero to a hundred is inspiring, but what’s more inspiring is his tenacity amid all the challenges that are borne out of his fame and his health.
A scenic affair, How I’m Feeling Now is really easy on the eyes. The quiet moments of exterior shots really complement the overall emotional and intimate context as well as provide a sense of beauty reflecting that which pervades the story of the musician.
Through vulnerable moments not only from Capaldi but his mother and father, the documentary lets the viewer empathize with the musician as he emerges as a genuine, tender, and resilient force for good.
Whether a Lewis Capaldi fan or not, the emotional moments in the documentary really work and can tug at the heart strings of anyone, especially when it tackles universal concepts like life and mortality.
Negatives
Despite the serenity that the cinematography often inspires, the documentary is a bit of a dud when it comes to the overall execution. There’s a very standard procedure that, when coupled with the common issues of an artist contending with their sophomore professional outing, makes for a rather stale affair.
Verdict
Lewis Capaldi: How I’m Feeling Now is a touching, if a bit standard, documentation of Capaldi’s rise to fame, the subsequent challenges that it poses, the existential fears and anxieties that inform his work, and his unprecedented health crises that pose too big a hurdle for him.
Watching the young musician tackle and talk about the flurry of dilemmas and issues is always endearing, while the support of his parents amid overwhelming life events can often trigger the tears.
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