A very different approach to a documentary, Matangi/Maya/M.I.A. takes you into the inner sanctum of a pop star that pulled herself up from a ghetto in London to the world stage. Why it’s not like other documentaries of this ilk? Maya was a refugee, a person who fled her country due to civil war. Yes, you may look at others who have risen out of the ashes, but no one I’m aware of that has achieved the nearly impossible. Coincidental? Maybe a bit, but when you see this film made up of some 22 years of personal and news video tape, you’ll see why she is someone special.
Maya was born Matangi, named after one of the ten Hindu Tantric goddesses. In this case Matangi governed speech, music, knowledge and the arts. It wasn’t so much the name that made her special, it was her penchant for music and dance at a very early age. Growing up in the time of hostilities in Sri Lanka where her father set up a resistance group called the Tamil Resistance Movement, was not easy. Gone several years from his family the Tamil leader, was not there for his daughter. To escape the violence her mother took Maya, her sister Kali and brother Sugu to England, where her family settled with other refugees.
The film goes on to show how she grew to love pop/rap singing and songwriting and set up an image based on her past. It wasn’t as easy as this may sound to you from what I have written here, and you will see why when you watch this film. Her name was changed to Maya in England and later the pop star M.I.A. who has recorded 33 singles, 27 music videos and five studio albums according to Wikipedia.
Without going into too many spoilers, I’ll finish this review with the following comments. Director Steve Loveridge does a terrific job of putting together a smooth flowing recreation of Maya and her journey to stardom. He uses home video, music videos, a collection of old photos and news reports of the times to engross and compel, some scenes with jaw dropping success. Although he uses Maya’s ultimate accomplishments as an exclamation point, rather than a tribute, her receiving a nomination for a Grammy in 2009 for “Paper Planes” and 2013 for “Bad Girls” also with an Oscar nomination in 2008 for “O…Saya” Best Original Song Slumdog Millionaire, have been amazing feats.
The film is an album in itself with songs performed and written by M.I.A. including “Space”, “Sunshowers”, “Fire Fire”, “Pull Up The People”, “Paper Planes”, “Hussel (Featuring Afrikan Boy)”, “Boyz”, “20 Dollar”, “Bamboo Banga”, “Born Free”, “Bird Flu”, “Macho”, “Bad Girls”, “Hombre”, “The Message”, “Galang”, “Borders” and “Reload”.
You have to see the film to believe it. Now in theaters Matangi/Maya/M.I.A. has not been rated by the MPAA, but contains language, teen drinking, and news video violence. She was also reprimanded for a rude gesture she made as a co-singer during Madonna’s appearance at the 2012 Super Bowl Halftime. Maya has been outspoken about her country of Sri Lanka and does use the film in part to emphasize her stand on the matter.
FINAL ANALYSIS: A well-made and heartfelt documentary (4 out of 5 Stars)
Additional Film Information:
Cast: Maya/M.I.A.
Directed and written by: Steve Loveridge
Genre: Documentary, Music, Biography
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 1 hr. 36 min.
Opening Date: September 28, 2018
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
