We're currently hard at work on our upcoming Winter season (commencing May 4) and are now seeking volunteers to join the team to be a door person.
Door people are the friendly faces who greet you and scan your membership card as you enter the cinema. If you're a current ANUFG member and would like to help us out at screenings, we'd love to hear from you!
This is an unpaid volunteer position, but all door people receive a complimentary membership for the following season as a token of thanks upon completion of the requisite number of sessions (usually around 7-8, depending on the season).
Interested? If so, please get in touch by emailing us at info@anufg.org.au.
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WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK
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This week is a shorter one due to the Easter long weekend, but you can still get your cinematic fix with a French thriller based on true events (KOMPROMAT), a teenage girl's search for her mother that plays out entirely on device screens (MISSING) and the most personal film to date from Oscar-winning director of BIRDMAN and THE REVENANT, Alejandro G. Iñárritu (BARDO).
• TUE 4 APR @ 7:30 PM: KOMPROMAT (M, 127 MINS)
After taking up a cultural posting in Siberia, a French diplomat falls afoul of the local Russian authorities and soon finds himself accused of a terrible crime. Arrested and imprisoned, he has no hope of surviving – unless he is able to escape.
• WED 5 APR @ 7:30 PM: MISSING (M, 111 MINS)
When her mother disappears while holidaying in Colombia, a Los Angeles teenager must use all the technology at her fingertips to find her before it’s too late. But as she digs deeper, her digital sleuthing raises more questions than answers.
• THU 6 APR @ 7:30 PM: BARDO, FALSE CHRONICLE OF A HANDFUL OF TRUTHS (MA, 160 MINS)
After winning a prestigious award, a Mexican journalist and documentary filmmaker living in Los Angeles returns home to his native country, where he finds himself pushed to his existential limit, in director Alejandro G. Iñárritu's latest.
Presented in partnership with the Embassy of Mexico.
Since 2016, we have been proud to be a part of the Canberra Southern Cross Club's (CSCC) Community Rewards program, which gives back to a wide variety of community groups throughout the year.
If you are a CSCC member, you can choose to nominate the ANU Film Group as your community group of choice and the Club will donate 7.5% of whatever you spend on food and drink at any of their venues to us. So you get to have a great meal and support not just one, but two local organisations too!
If you’re already a CSCC member, nominating us is easy – all you have to do is click the button below and fill out a short online form by CLICKING HERE.
Alternatively, you can speak to reception at any CSCC venue. And if you’re not yet a member, you can find out more about the CSCC and its Community Rewards program at www.cscc.com.au/rewards
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WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK
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It's a massive week with not just one, or two, but three of this year's Best Picture nominees – which also picked up six Oscars between them, including Best International Film (ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT), Best Visual Effects (AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER) and Best Adapted Screenplay (WOMEN TALKING). Plus, the best film about a drug-fuelled, rampaging bear you'll see this year!
• THU 30 MAR @ 7:30 PM: ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (MA, 147 MINS)
In 1917, a German teenager naively joins his country’s military effort – but it’s not long before his dreams of becoming a hero turn into desperation and fear in this 4x Oscar-winning German adaptation of the classic anti-war novel.
• FRI 31 MAR @ 7:30 PM: AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER (M, 192 MINS)
Fifteen years after thwarting the human invasion of Pandora, the Na’vi once again find their peaceful existence under attack and must seek refuge with an amphibious reef tribe in director James Cameron's long-awaited, Oscar-winning sequel.
• SAT 1 APR @ **5 PM**: WOMEN TALKING (M, 104 MINS)
In 2010, a group of women in a Mennonite community in Bolivia struggle with their future and their faith after discovering that the colony's men have been drugging and raping the women there for years. Oscar winner for Best Adapted Screenplay.
• SAT 1 APR @ 7:30 PM: COCAINE BEAR (MA, 109 MINS)
After ingesting a large amount of lost cocaine, an American black bear goes on a murderous bloody rampage in a small Georgia town where a group of cops, criminals, tourists and teens must join forces to survive the attack.
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WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK
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We're partnering with the Canberra Comedy Festival this week to celebrate them coming to Kambri at ANU for the first time with a weekend of comedy films featuring A MAN CALLED OTTO, THE MEANING OF LIFE and WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT?. But if you're in the mood to be thrilled, it doesn't get scarier than SMILE or spellbinding Australian-Macedonian folk horror YOU WON'T BE ALONE. Take your pick!
• WED 22 MAR @ 7:30 PM: YOU WON'T BE ALONE (MA, 109 MINS)
In 19th century Macedonia, a young witch accidentally kills a peasant woman and then assumes her form to live life in her skin. Her curiosity ignited, she continues to wield this power in an attempt to understand what it means to be human.
• THU 23 MAR @ 7:30 PM: SMILE (MA, 114 MINS)
After witnessing a traumatic incident involving a patient, a therapist (Sosie Bacon) suspects that she has become the target of a malevolent entity. Can she survive long enough to figure out how to avoid becoming its next victim?
• FRI 24 MAR @ 7:30 PM: A MAN CALLED OTTO (M, 126 MINS)
Otto (Tom Hanks) is a grumpy widower who is ready to give up on life after the loss of his wife. When a pregnant woman and her young family move in across the street, he finds his outlook changing as his world is turned upside down.
• SAT 25 MAR @ **5 PM**: MONTY PYTHON'S THE MEANING OF LIFE (M, 107 MINS)
From the miracle of birth to death and everything in between, the Monty Python troupe attempt to shed light on the significance of human existence through a series of skits which leaves no stone unturned, in this 40th anniversary screening.
• SAT 25 MAR @ 7:30 PM: WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT?
As a filmmaker (Lily James) sets out to document her childhood friend's journey from London to Pakistan where he is to enter into an arranged marriage, she must decide whether to follow her head or her heart in her ongoing search for love.
The multiverse took over the Oscars this year, with EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE bringing home seven awards (including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actress) during the course of a history-making night. Here's when the remainder of this year's Oscar-winning films will be screening at the ANUFG:
• All Quiet on the Western Front – Thu 30 Mar, 7:30pm
WINNER: International Film, Cinematography, Original Score, Production Design
• Avatar: The Way of Water – Fri 31 Mar, 7:30pm
WINNER: Visual Effects
• Women Talking – Sat 1 Apr, 5pm
WINNER: Adapted Screenplay
• The Whale – Sat 15 Apr, 7:30 pm
WINNER: Actor (Brendan Fraser), Makeup and Hairstyling
An Oscars sweep by one film usually means that many other films are left unrecognised – but that doesn't mean they're any less worthy. So be sure to give the many other nominated films some love when we screen them, including two bigs ones with TÁR and THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN coming up this week!
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WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK
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We cap off Oscar Week with three films nominated for a combined 16 Oscars: black comedy THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN, Cate Blanchett in psychological drama TÁR, and the adorable adventures of MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON. Plus, the true story of a Māori trailblazer (WHINA) and Jason Statham and Guy Ritchie reuniting for superspy hijinks (OPERATION FORTUNE).
• WED 15 MAR @ 7:30 PM: WHINA (PG, 112 mins)
Trailblazing Māori activist Whina Cooper spent her entire life breaking boundaries and fighting to improve the lives and rights of Indigenous New Zealanders – all while contending with a tumultuous journey of her own.
• THU 16 MAR @ 7:30 PM: OPERATION FORTUNE: RUSE DE GUERRE (M, 114 MINS)
When a deadly weapons technology comes onto the market, super spy Orson Fortune (Jason Statham) must track down an arms broker (Hugh Grant) to stop the sale, aided by top operatives and a Hollywood movie star.
• FRI 17 MAR @ 7:30 PM: TÁR (M, 158 MINS)
Celebrated conductor Lydia Tár (Cate Blanchett) has it all: a dream job, countless awards and a supportive family – until old habits cause her carefully constructed life to unravel and fracture. Nominated for 6 Oscars, including Best Picture.
• SAT 18 MAR @ **5 PM**: MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON (PG, 89 MINS)
Marcel is an adorable one-inch-tall shell who ekes out a colourful existence with his grandmother – until they are discovered by a documentary filmmaker, who gives Marcel a new hope at re-discovering the family he never knew he had.
• SAT 18 MAR @ 7:30 PM: THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN (M, 114 MINS)
On an island off the coast of Ireland, Pádraic (Colin Farrell) is devastated when his best friend (Brendan Gleeson) suddenly puts an end to their friendship – and resolves to change his mind. Nominated for 9 Oscars, including Best Picture.
With March well and truly upon us – and the Oscars taking place on Monday – here are some highlights to look forward to this month at the ANU Film Group:
• Tár – Cate Blanchett delivers a virtuoso performance as a celebrated conductor whose perfect life begins to unravel (Fri 17 Mar, 7:30pm)
• Marcel the Shell with Shoes On – the Oscar-nominated animated adventures of an adorable one-inch shell with real heart (Sat 18 Mar, 5pm)
• Banshees of Inisherin – Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson are terrific in this Guiness-black comedy about two estranged friends (Sat 18 Mar, 7:30pm)
• A Man Called Otto – Tom Hanks is the world's most likeable grump in this Hollywood remake of the Swedish comedy (Fri 24 Mar, 7:30pm)
• All Quiet on the Western Front – war has never been bleaker in this acclaimed German-language take on the classic novel (Thu 30 Mar, 7:30pm)
• Avatar: The Way of Water – James Cameron's long-awaited follow-up to his 2009 box office hit is cinema at its most spectacular (Fri 31 Mar, 7:30pm)
And that's just the tip of the iceberg. To see what else we're showing this month, click below to check out the rest of our Autumn 2023 programme at www.anufg.org.au/programme
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WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK
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Take a stand, tap your toes or jump out of your seat at the ANU Film Group this week, with a stranger-than-fiction Lithuanian doco, Magic Mike’s final hurrah, one of the most talked-about horror flicks in recent years, and Tim Minchin's musical take on Roald Dahl's beloved children's book.
• THU 9 MAR @ 7:30 PM: THE JUMP (85 MINS)
In 1970, a Lithuanian sailor defects by jumping off a Soviet vessel onto an U.S. Coast Guard patrol boat. His bid for asylum is cut short when the Americans return him to the Soviets in one of the biggest political dramas of the Cold War.
Presented in partnership with the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania
• FRI 10 MAR @ 7:30 PM: MAGIC MIKE’S LAST DANCE (M, 117 MINS)
Magic Mike (Channing Tatum) takes to the stage again after a bad business deal leaves him broke. For one last hurrah, he heads to London with a wealthy socialite (Salma Hayek Pinault) after she lures him with an offer he can’t refuse.
• SAT 11 MAR @ **5 PM**: ROALD DAHL’S MATILDA THE MUSICAL (PG, 117 MINS)
Neglected by her parents, an extraordinary girl named Matilda is sent off to a boarding school, where she takes a stand against its ruthless headmistress (Emma Thompson), in this musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s beloved novel.
• SAT 11 MAR @ 7:30 PM: BARBARIAN (MA, 103 MINS)
Arriving in Detroit for an interview, a woman discovers that her rental home has been double booked by a strange man. Against her better judgement, she decides to spend the evening there – but soon discovers there's much more to fear.
Save the date: our 2023 Annual General Meeting will take place on Monday 20 March, from 6 pm in the Cinema.
All members are encouraged to come along and hear about how the Group has performed over the past year, and to help select the committee that will guide us through the next 12 months. If you're keen, you (yes, you!) can even get involved in the running of Australia's largest film society.
Head to www.anufg.org.au/AGM to find out more about getting involved, or send us an email to info@anufg.org.au if you have any further questions.
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WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK
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Step back in time to the roaring 1920s with Damien Chazelle's Hollywood epic BABYLON, along with Oscar-nominated documentary NAVALNY, an inspirational French drama (RISE), a look at the monumental shift from film to digital (SPLICE HERE) and M. Night Shyamalan's latest nail-biting thriller (KNOCK AT THE CABIN).
• WED 1 MAR @ 7:30 PM: SPLICE HERE: A PROJECTED ODYSSEY
A decade after the single greatest change in the history of cinema – the shift from recording and projecting movies on celluloid film to digital formats – documentarian and projectionist Rob Murphy sets out to discover if the era of film is truly over. (G, 117 mins)
• THU 2 MAR @ 7:30 PM: RISE
A promising young ballet dancer finds her life falling apart after she suffers a devastating injury on stage. Her path to recovery leads her to new friends, a new love and the freedom of contemporary dance in this inspiring French drama. (M, 117 mins)
Presented in partnership with Alliance Francaise Canberra in celebration of the 2023 French Film Festival, screening in Canberra from March 9 to April 5. Find out more HERE
• FRI 3 MAR @ 7:30 PM: BABYLON
A daring, audacious ode to cinema which traces the rise and fall of multiple characters during an era of unbridled decadence and depravity as Hollywood transitions from silent films to ‘talkies’ in the late 1920s. Nominated for 3 Oscars. (MA, 189 mins)
• SAT 4 MAR @ **5 PM**: NAVALNY
In 2020, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a military-grade nerve agent. Upon his recovery, aided by investigative journalists, he uncovers an assassination plot masterminded by none other than Vladimir Putin. (M, 99 mins)
• SAT 4 MAR @ 7:30 PM: KNOCK AT THE CABIN
While vacationing at a remote cabin, a young girl and her parents are taken hostage by four armed strangers who demand that the family make an unthinkable choice to avert the apocalypse. But are they telling the truth? (M, 100 mins)
We’ve recently made a small but important change to the way that our Annual memberships operate. Since 2019, all Annual memberships have been valid for the season in which they were purchased, along with three subsequent seasons. This meant that those who joined up earlier in the season got slightly more value out of their memberships.
To give members the best value possible going forward, our Annual memberships will now be valid for precisely 365 days, inclusive of the day of purchase. This means that Annual membership will be valid for the same length of time, regardless of when you happen to join up.
Please note that this does not affect the validity of existing Annual memberships for anyone who joined up or renewed this year prior to February 12, 2023, as your memberships would have been extended until February 11, 2024 (i.e. more than 365 days). Our Season memberships also remain unchanged and remain valid only for the fixed period of a particular season, regardless of when they are purchased.
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WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK
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We begin the week with a powerful new documentary that takes a look at the lives of two women whose lives have been upended by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in commemoration of the first anniversary of the war. It will be followed by a Q&A with the film’s director, Simon Target.
Also making an appearance at the ANU Film Group this week: Guillermo del Toro’s dark, Oscar-nominated take on PINOCCHIO, the incredible true story of an amateur historian (THE LOST KING), an acclaimed French crime thriller (THE NIGHT OF THE 12TH) and a 90th anniversary screening of the one and only KING KONG!
• TUE 21 FEB @ 7:30 PM: MASHA & VALENTYNA (50 MINS)
Masha and Valentyna are just two of the seven million women and children who have crossed the border into Poland in 2022 after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. They find safe haven in Polish homes, but face tough decisions for their future. Followed by Q&A with director Simon Target.
Presented in partnership with the ANU Centre for European Studies, the Embassy of the Republic of Poland and the Embassy of Ukraine.
• THU 23 FEB @ 7:30 PM: THE LOST KING (M, 108 MINS)
Prompted by spectral visions, a lonely amateur historian (Sally Hawkins) becomes obsessed with unearthing the remains of King Richard III, which have been missing for over 500 years, much to the chagrin of Britain's top academics.
• FRI 24 FEB @ 7:30 PM: GUILLERMO DEL TORO’S PINOCCHIO (M, 117 MINS)
After the death of his young son, an Italian carpenter carves a boy from wood. When he's brought to life, the boy embarks on an adventure into a world of fascism and exploitation, in Guillermo del Toro’s dark animated take on the classic tale. 2023 Oscar nominee for Best Animated Feature Film.
• SAT 25 FEB @ **5 PM**: KING KONG (PG, 100 MINS)
The Eighth Wonder of the World turns 90! Celebrate the milestone anniversary of this all-time classic, in which a film crew travel to a remote island in search of a legendary creature, which they bring back to New York – with disastrous results.
• SAT 25 FEB @ 7:30 PM: THE NIGHT OF THE 12TH (M, 114 MINS)
An ambitious young policeman appointed to investigate serious crimes gets more than he bargained for when a horrific murder case lands on his desk, leading to a haunting obsession with the victim's life, in this French crime thriller.
We kicked things off with a nearly packed free screening of EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE on Monday, but there’s still plenty more to come for the first week of our new Autumn 2023 season!
Check out what’s on this week below, which includes Steven Spielberg’s 7x Oscar-nominated autobiographical drama (THE FABELMANS), a Terry Pratchett animated adventure (THE AMAZING MAURICE), a sweeping Scottish melodrama (THE ROAD DANCE) and everyone’s new favourite killer robot (M3GAN).
For your convenience, we’ll also now be including links to individual film listings on our website, where you can find more information about the films showing each week, including extended synopses, cast listings, posters and trailers.
• THU 16 FEB @ 7:30 PM: M3GAN (M, 102 MINS)
When she becomes the guardian of her newly-orphaned 8-year-old niece, a toy company roboticist enlists the help of her latest invention – an artificially intelligent, life-like doll named M3GAN – to deadly
consequences.
• FRI 17 FEB @ 7:30 PM: THE ROAD DANCE (M, 117 MINS)
A beautiful young woman dreams of a better life away from her small Scottish island village with her lover. But her plans are upended by the outbreak of the Great War – and an act of violence which changes her life forever.
• SAT 18 FEB @ **5 PM**: THE AMAZING MAURICE (PG, 93 MINS)
A streetwise ginger cat comes up with a money-making scam by befriending a group of rats and a pied piper, but they must go on the run when their con is exposed in this animated film based on the children's book by Terry Pratchett.
• SAT 18 FEB @ 7:30 PM: THE FABELMANS (M, 150 MINS)
Growing up in the 1950s, young Sammy Fabelman aspires to become a filmmaker but finds his childhood rocked by the discovery of a shattering
family secret in director Steven Spielberg’s acclaimed semi-autobiographical drama. Nominated for 7 Oscars, including Best Picture.
Presented in partnership with the ANU Postgraduate and Research Students’ Association
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NOTICE ABOUT DIRECT DEPOSIT RENEWALS
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Please be advised that the ANU Film Group switched to a different bank as of the end of 2022, so our bank account details have now changed.
If you have our old bank account details saved on your online banking platform from a past direct deposit, we suggest that you delete these to avoid depositing money into the wrong account in the future.
We also require that you fill out the renewal form at www.anufg.org.au/join when renewing your membership to ensure we don’t miss any payments, and to aid in the reconciliation process. Thanks in advance for your cooperation!
Our Autumn 2023 season officially begins tonight with a free screening of one of 2022's most acclaimed, original and talked-about films!
Nominated for a leading 11 Oscars including Best Picture, EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE follows Chinese-American immigrant Evelyn (Michelle Yeoh) who runs a struggling laundromat with her husband (Ke Huy Quan). During a meeting with a tax auditor (Jamie Lee Curtis), Evelyn’s world suddenly fractures and she discovers that she must ‘verse-jump’ into the lives of her parallel universe counterparts to save them all from a powerful being. As profound as it is profane, this metaphysical epic must be seen to be believed.
Entry to tonight’s screening is free and everyone – whether you’re a current member, former member or have never been a member at all – is welcome to attend. Doors will open from 7 pm for a prompt 7:30 pm film start, so don’t be late!
Note: we will be screening the re-released version of the film, which includes an introduction from the Daniels and an additional eight minutes of outtakes during the credits.
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FEBRUARY HIGHLIGHTS
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Although we’re already partway through the month, there is plenty to look forward to in February as part of our new Autumn 2023 season. The full programme can be found now at www.anufg.org.au/news/522 with memberships available for purchase at any screening or online at www.anufg.org.au/join
• M3GAN – an A.I. doll assigned to care for an orphaned child takes its job too seriously in this film that’s part killer robot horror, part biting social satire (Thu 16 Feb, 7:30 pm)
• THE FABELMANS – only Steven Spielberg could make a film about his own coming of age and have it be as brilliant as this 7x Oscar-nominated drama (Sat 18 Feb, 7:30 pm)
• MASHA & VALENTYNA – the heartfelt story of two women who crossed the border into
Poland following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with director Q&A (Tue 21 Feb, 7:30 pm)
• GUILLERMO DEL TORO’S PINOCCHIO – Oscar-nominated for Best Animated Feature, this is the Mexican director’s dark, soulful take on the classic tale (Fri 24 Feb, 7:30 pm)
• KING KONG (1933) – witness the Eighth Wonder of the World in all its glory as this all-time classic returns to the big screen for its 90th anniversary (Sat 25 Feb, 5 pm)
• THE NIGHT OF THE 12TH – a detective becomes obsessed with the case of a murdered girl in this French thriller which won Best Film at this year’s Lumières (Sat 25 Feb, 7:30 pm)
For more, view our full Autumn 2023 listing at www.anufg.org.au/programme
We’ve reached the last week of our Summer season – and it seems the weather might agree. Helping us wrap things up this week, we’ve got a singing crocodile (LYLE, LYLE CROCODILE), a Whitney Houston biopic (I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY) and Ralph Fiennes as a chef with a hidden agenda (THE MENU).
But don’t fret – our Autumn season begins just next Monday with a free screening of EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE. More details on our new line-up can be found at www.anufg.org.au/news/522 with memberships available for purchase at any screening or online at www.anufg.org.au/join
• FRI 10 FEB @ 7:30 PM: THE MENU (MA, 107 MINS)
A young couple travels to a private island to dine at an exclusive restaurant where its celebrity chef (Ralph Fiennes) has prepared a lavish menu – but his approach to cuisine holds shocking surprises for the guests, in this darkly comic thriller.
• SAT 11 FEB @ **5 PM**: LYLE, LYLE CROCODILE (PG, 106 MINS)
When his family moves to New York City, a young boy struggles to adapt to his new school and new friends. But all of that changes when he discovers Lyle – a singing crocodile who loves baths and music – living in the attic of his new home.
• SAT 11 FEB @ 7:30 PM: I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY (M, 144 MINS)
A powerful and triumphant celebration of the life and music of the incomparable Whitney Houston (Naomi Ackie), tracking her trailblazing journey from New Jersey choir girl to one of the best-selling and most awarded recording artists of all time.