PRAISE THIS

US, 2023, 111 minutes, Colour.

Chloe Bailey, Anjelika Washington, Quavo.

Directed by Tina Gordon.

As the title seems to suggest, this is a religious film, a religious music film. Cast and production is exclusively African-American, the setting in Atlanta, Georgia.

The attraction of the film to all audiences is the music, the singing. It continues almost continuously throughout the film, in churches, in rehearsals, in performances, in competitions. A couple of reviewers remarked that this is Pitch Perfect goes to church!

The narrative is slight and expected. We are introduced to the Praise choir in a transformed into church warehouse in Atlanta where the congregation gathers to worship and to sing. A range of characters, especially a pastor with life tattooes – who answers criticism by saying that he hadn’t expected in his early life to be a pastor! The central focus is on Sam, a lively Chloe Bailey, whose mother has died, lives in LA with her father, rebels against him and he takes her to his relatives in Atlanta. She meets her lively cousin, Jess, Anjelika Washington, bonding, clashing, having to go to church, putting up with it, but claiming that she can turn any song into a great performance. The Praise Choir sings rather sedate songs – and there are two older women who sit in judgement against them – and with some loud boos and catcalls. However, the choir and the different personalities persevere.

There is a competition, the Praise Choir with Sam, surprisingly (not!) winning against the rather presumptuous other candidates. There is a detour along the way when Sam becomes involved with a well-known rapper and his recording studio.

Definitely a feel-good film, full of gospel music and lyrics, full of dance performance and verve.