I Was Born This Way Review (Tribeca): Compassionate Activism
I WAS BORN THIS WAY is a soulful look at Archbishop Carl Bean, a musician, activist, minister, and LGBTQ elder.
Prior to watching I Was Born This Way, I was completely unfamiliar with Archbishop Carl Bean. However, after watching this documentary by directors Daniel Junge and Sam Pollard, I am desperate to learn more.
The documentary follows Carl Bean, a musician, activist, and founder of the Unity Fellowship Church of Los Angeles. Following a tumultuous childhood, he discovered that he had a singing voice that was beloved by all who heard it. He was a Motown and disco singer and gained fame for singing the song “I Was Born This Way,” a gay anthem for the 1970s.
As an openly gay black man, Bean encountered homophobia from some in the church and racism from some in the LGBTQ community. But as the AIDS epidemic worsened, Bean found that he could best serve his community by turning to the faith that he had been raised in and making it accessible to those who had been shunned by it.
If the title I Was Born This Way makes you think of the Lady Gaga song “Born This Way,” that is no coincidence. In this documentary, she talks about how the legacy of Archbishop Bean influenced her songwriting. The documentary also brings in Billy Porter, Questlove, Dionne Warwick, and Maxine Waters, all of whom share the impact that Bean had on their lives. Rather than a parade of celebrities, we see people who had a deep connection to Bean and his work and hope to carry on his legacy.
In addition to interviews with these celebrities, the filmmakers were able to interview Carl Bean himself before he passed away in 2021. Hearing Bean talk about the trials he faced, as well as the love he received, was a powerful element in the documentary. The affection that he had for his community rings through in his words.
Another lovely element in I Was Born This Way is the inclusion of some rotoscope animation throughout. This process allows the viewers to explore aspects of the story that couldn’t be filmed, but nevertheless add to the overall impact, inviting the audience into a deeper understanding of Archbishop Bean’s life and work.
In the second verse of the song, Carl sings:
You're calling me strange
'Cause you don't understand
God's role for me
In life's overall plan
I've learned to hold
My head up high
Not in scorn nor disgrace
Doin' my thing so individually
Entwined with this
Human race
I Was Born This Way shows that these weren’t simply lyrics that Archbishop Carl Bean sang, but the way that he lived his life. Now it’s up to us to follow in his footsteps and do the same.
Rating: 4.5/5
Here is my interview with directors Daniel Junge and Sam Pollard and producer Wellington Love.