Opera & Film - Beyoncé: Lemonade
April 9, 2024
The second “visual album” (a collection of short films) by Beyoncé, this time around she takes a piercing look at racial issues and feminist concepts through a sexualized, satirical, and solemn tone.
Presented in partnership with Seattle Opera. This screening is co-presented with Myah Rose Paden from Classical KING and will be preceded by a short contextual lecture and followed by an audience discussion and Q&A. A quick preview from the facilitator:
Beyoncé’s visual album is one of the greatest artworks of the 21st century, a dynamic work of Black Feminism that functions as a Song Cycle (similar to the vocal series of Franz Schubert). Each song viscerally shares the journey from anger at her husband’s infidelity to ultimately forgiveness—and if that’s not powerful enough, the film’s visuals both accompany the songs and expand on the experience of generations of black women.
SIFF year-round passes and vouchers are not valid for this screening.
"Lemonade" (2016), directed by Beyoncé, is a visual album that intertwines music, poetry, and striking imagery to explore themes of infidelity, resilience, and empowerment. Through a potent fusion of personal narrative and cultural commentary, Beyoncé delivers a powerful artistic statement on the complexities of relationships, Black womanhood, and the journey towards self-discovery and healing.
- Director: Beyonce, Mark Romanek
- Principal Cast: Beyoncé
- Country: USA
- Year: 2016
- Running Time: 65 min.
- Producer: Beyoncé
- Screenplay: Warsan Shire
- Cinematographers: Khalik Allah, Chayse Irvin, Pär Ekberg, Santiago Gonzalez, Malik Sayeed, Dikayl Rimmasch, Reed Morano
- Editors: Bill Yukich
- Music: Beyoncé
- Language: English