Directed by Sydney Pollack. Reviewed by Paul Sorrell

In 1972, with 20 albums and five Grammys under her belt, but eager to reconnect with her roots, soul maven Aretha Franklin recorded a live gospel album over two nights at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Watts, Los Angeles. The event was filmed for a television special, but the footage was considered too raw to proceed (and was later the subject of legal wranglings), despite the resulting record becoming the best-selling gospel album of all time.

Before an eclectic audience, the sessions were fronted by Rev James Cleveland, himself a talented gospel singer and instrumentalist who frequently accompanies Aretha during the film. He is clear that this is to be a worship service, not a concert, and the film offers us all the elements of a vibrant Afro-American Christianity — unrestrained fervour, physical emotion and full participation by soloist, choir (a revved-up Southern California Community Choir) and congregation, all caught up as one in praising God.

Now, after nearly 50 years, we are privileged to witness the Queen of Soul in her natural environment. We are perhaps more comfortable with rawness in 2019, and indeed the shaky, grainy colour footage embraces false starts, technical breakdowns and even the ejection of an over-enthusiastic congregant. As a girl, Aretha had accompanied her father, Rev C L Franklin, on many of his preaching missions, and he pays tribute to her during the event. Aretha perspires freely under the hot film lights and when her father gently wipes her face with a towel, it is one of the most moving moments in the film.

And, of course, the music is great. The two evenings’ offerings are presented as they were delivered, so that the title song comes halfway through the film. With choir and congregation rising to their feet, fully caught up in the moment, it is in many ways the climax of the film. But for my money, Carole’s King’s “You’ve Got a Friend” was the standout song, taking me back to King’s evocative album, Tapestry, that was part of the soundtrack of my youth.

For those who may know Aretha Franklin only through her cameo role as a greasy spoon waitress in The Blues Brothers, where she belts out an adrenalin-pumping rendition of “Think”, this film will thrill, delight and maybe even bring you to tears.