Respect

Get your tickets for Cinema @ St John’s showing of R.E.S.P.E.C.T

Saturday 5th March

Doors open 6:30pm for a 7:00pm start.

In 1952, 10-year-old Aretha Franklin lives with her Baptist pastor father C.L., her brother Cecil, and her sisters Erma and Carolyn in Detroit, Michigan. The sudden death of her mother Barbara traumatizes Aretha and, as a result, she is unwilling to speak until her father forces her to sing at church after weeks.

Seven years later, Aretha, now a teen mother of two boys, meets Ted White, a local producer, at a party at her father’s house. The two strike up a conversation before being interrupted by C. L., who warns Ted to stay away from his family. Later, C. L. surprises Aretha with tickets to New York for a meeting with Columbia Records executive John Hammond. After being offered a contract, Aretha begins to sing jazz records with Columbia, including “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive.”

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Four albums later, Aretha still lacks a signature hit as a jazz singer. After singing a tribute to inspiration and longtime family friend Dinah Washington, who is initially angered by the gesture, she is told to find songs that move her and stop trying to fit the polished image her father wants her to display. Aretha reunites with Ted, with whom she begins a relationship. Frustrated by her lack of success after nine albums, Aretha begins skipping recording sessions to see him, embarrassing her father. Much to the chagrin of her sisters and the dismay of their father, Aretha returns home and introduces Ted to her family and announces her desire to have Ted become her manager; her father begrudgingly consents.

Two years later, Ted and Aretha marry and have a child, while Aretha is ultimately dropped by Columbia. Ted secures a deal with veteran record producer Jerry Wexler of Atlantic Records, who pairs her with accomplished musicians in Muscle Shoals, where Aretha begins to record her first hit, “I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)”. However, the recording session is cut short after Ted gets into a fight with the manager of the studio.

After a physical altercation with Ted results in a black eye, Aretha returns home to Detroit and hears her own song on the radio, empowering her to take a more hands-on role in her career. One night, Aretha and Carolyn are inspired to re-arrange Otis Redding’s song “Respect,” and it becomes a #1 single.

Before a concert, Dr. Martin Luther King, a longtime family friend of the Franklins, honours Aretha with an award from the Southern Christian Leadership Centre, proclaiming February 16 as “Aretha Franklin Day” in Detroit. Aretha sings another signature hit, “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” and makes plans to sing for another civil rights event in Memphis, defying Ted’s plan for her to meet with Wexler and other executives to discuss the prospect of a tour. After Time magazine publishes an article depicting Ted’s abuse towards Aretha in a hotel lobby, an angry Ted confronts Aretha, causing her to end their relationship.

After the breakdown of her marriage to Ted, Aretha begins dating her tour manager Ken Cunningham, and eventually has her fourth child. Another seven years later, after learning of Dr. King’s assassination, Aretha’s distraught father drunkenly argues with her over the direction of the Movement, expressing doubt in the younger generation’s patience and ability to make long-term gains, before ultimately telling Aretha that she no longer walks in the spirit.

Aretha continues to release hits but has begun to overwork herself, constantly double-booking appearances and coping with the pressure of her career by increasingly turning to alcohol and drugs. Aretha’s siblings attempt to stage an intervention, but Aretha angrily tells them they are supported by her success. During a performance, a drunken Aretha falls from the stage and Ken decides to leave. Aretha continues to find solace in her drinking until she sees a vision of her late mother and decides to sober up, leading to Ken reconciling with her.

Aretha becomes convinced that she must return to her gospel roots, and approaches Wexler with the idea of producing a gospel album. Doubtful of the album’s ability to sell, Wexler attempts to dissuade her before relenting on the condition that she allow the recording to be filmed. Aretha begins rehearsals with family friend James Cleveland, now a respected gospel artist. During the recording, Aretha is happy to see that her father has agreed to come, and he apologizes to Aretha for the pain he has caused her. She begins to sing Amazing Grace, which became the highest-selling album of her career with over two million copies sold in the United States and earned a double platinum certification.

On the 5th March 2022 @7:00PM we will be screening RESPECT.

Doors open 6:30pm for a 7:00pm start.

Bring your own cushions and blankets to make sure you are comfortable. There will be Popcorn / sweets and hot dogs and a licensed bar to make it a real cinema experience.

Come and join us and be part of St John’s cinema.

All showings are screened with subtitles so everyone can enjoy the film.

You can buy tickets online above, or on the door

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