Miss Sharon Jones!

Barbara Kopple follows the lead singer of Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings in "Miss Sharon Jones!" during a very, very tough year.

I once thought that having one's name before one's band was gauche, but Sharon Jones is a force of nature on stage. She's proof that a lead vocalist in a band can be a tantalizing mixture: A soulful combination of emcee, dancer, cheerleader and of course, a consummate interpreter of lyrics and emotion. The documentary treats the audience to both the live performances as well as rehearsals of the band. Primarily, Sharon's voice as both a performer and a black woman struggling to survive cancer are featured.

It is wonderful to see someone succeed who is so proud to be black, proud of the legacy of African Americans in this country, proud of the tradition of soul singing, gospel and performance. Sadly, a performer's income is primarily based on being able to perform and soul is not a type of performance where musicians get to lie down and take a nap in the middle of a song. Luckily, she is able to live with a loving friend. During her fight with cancer she also has to struggle with two pieces of uncertainty regarding her mortality as well as financial realities. If she doesn't perform, she may not be able to pay for her treatments. If she forces herself to perform when she is feeling very unhealthy, she may not survive the chemotherapy necessary to fight her cancer.

Members of the Dap Kings, close friends and her management team share their concerns around Sharon's well being. Although she sings like an angel brought to earth, she is still a sick person whose fight with cancer causes her to question herself, the motives of those around her and the nature of her life and career. Her management continues to book her throughout her treatment, trying to give her motivation and things to look forward to with an impending album release and world tour. There is a sense that Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings have worked so hard to make it in the music business that it would be a tragedy to even take necessary medical breaks. Kopple doesn't focus more on the positives than the negatives, and anyone who has had cancer or has a family member who has it or passed away due to it may be able to recognize their own trials and tribulations through the film "Miss Sharon Jones!"