A documentary about soul singer Sharon Jones life, career and ongoing cancer battle is heading to movie theaters. The Barbara Kopple-directed Miss Sharon Jones!, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festivaland screened at SXSW Film last year, opens a theatrical run July 29th following by a digital, on-demand and home video release in the fall.
The film follows Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings during a tumultuous year as the singer, on the verge of releasing a new album and embarking on a tour, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Miss Sharon Jones! captures Jones cancer battle and, ultimately, her return to the stage. The documentary also shows how the Dap-Kings were nearlytorn apart during that tumultuous period.
In addition to two-time Oscar winner Kopples landmark 1976 documentary Harlan County, USA, the filmmaker has also crafted music-related films like Wild Man Blues, about Woody Allens love of music, My Generation about the Woodstock festivals and the Dixie Chicks Shut Up & Sing.
In September 2015, Jones revealed that her cancer had returned, but the singer and her backing band continued to tour steadily even as she underwent chemotherapy. Im going to do what I have to do. Im going to sing, the singer said at the premiere of Miss Sharon Jones! at TIFF, promising that her diagnosis wont prevent her from giving the people what they want.