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Kesha: Rainbow - The Film

Kesha: Rainbow - The Film

Representation Score

8.6/10

Excellent

2018

Director

Kesha, Lagan Sebert

Runtime

31 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Kesha: Rainbow - The Film offers a powerful deconstruction of the pop star archetype. It replaces the polished, perfect icon with a complex portrait of human vulnerability and psychological depth. The documentary's greatest strength lies in its focus on mental health, presenting neurodivergence and invisible disabilities as central to the narrative. This approach grants these struggles a significant role in driving the story and authenticity. Despite being a focused personal portrait, the film maintains a progressive perspective through its emphasis on female autonomy and cross-cultural musical collaboration.

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Category Breakdown

Does Kesha: Rainbow - The Film have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film uses elements from the Rainbow era to acknowledge queer identity and experiences. Although it doesn't have specific LGBTQ+ plotlines, it promotes an environment of radical acceptance and non-traditional self-expression.

How does Kesha: Rainbow - The Film portray gender?

Good

The narrative challenges traditional gender roles by focusing on a female artist’s emotional autonomy. It avoids the male gaze and emphasizes her creative intellect and self-governance through her songwriting.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Kesha: Rainbow - The Film?

Fair

The film showcases collaborative musical efforts with diverse artists such as the Dap-Kings and Sandra Williams. This inclusion highlights a narrative that values cross-cultural artistic exchange.

How does Kesha: Rainbow - The Film represent religion and culture?

Good

The film prioritizes personal morality and resilience over religious doctrine. It frames recovery through personal songwriting and self-discovery rather than traditional institutional or familial support systems.

Does Kesha: Rainbow - The Film include disability representation?

Excellent

The film excels in depicting invisible disabilities like depression and eating disorders. These conditions are presented as central, lived realities rather than mere plot devices or sources of ridicule.

Present on Screen

  • Exceptional portrayal of invisible disabilities, treating mental health challenges with authenticity and raw honesty.
  • Strong emphasis on female intellectual and emotional autonomy, challenging traditional gender hierarchies.
  • Promotes a narrative of secular resilience and personal self-discovery over institutional dogma.

Limited or Absent

  • Lacks specific LGBTQ+ plotlines or centered queer narratives despite thematic nods.
  • The focused biographical nature limits broader racial and ethnic representation beyond musical collaborations.

Official Synopsis

In this moving short film, pop superstar Kesha shares the vision behind her 2017 album, Rainbow. An intimate portrait of her songwriting process and personal struggles—depression, insomnia, and an eating disorder—the piece follows her journey from hospitals and rehab to a triumphant performance of “Praying” at the 2018 GRAMMY® awards. “It’s called Rainbow because after the storm, there’s a rainbow,” she says in the film. “I wrote it as a message to myself that I could make it through.” The film includes music video clips, live performances, and footage of the singer writing and recording with Ben Folds, the Dap-Kings, and Sandra Williams.

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