George Michael: Freedom
George Michael reflects on his life and career in a film he was working on before he died
This film covers a five-year period in the life of the late superstar, George Michael. It includes the making of his album Listen without Prejudice Vol. 1 and is narrated by George, who died in 2016. Friends and family contribute, including the five supermodels who appeared in his Freedom! ’90 music video.
Right up until his death on Christmas Day 2016, George Michael had been making a documentary to mark the 25th anniversary of his second solo album
Listen without Prejudice.
But when he died of heart failure at 53, it became a posthumous tribute to one of the UK’s biggest music stars.
With contributions from friends, famous fans and musical collaborators, such as Stevie Wonder and Elton John, the documentary covers the making of the album and looks back at his days as one half of 1980s pop duo Wham!
‘I had musical ability which, as a teenager, was powered by this desperate ambition to be famous, respected and loved,’ recalls George in the film. ‘I didn’t have a masterplan. All I wanted at that time was success.’
But when success finally came, George’s life wasn’t without its problems, from his disillusion with fame and court case against Sony to the loss of his Brazilian partner Anselmo Feleppa to Aids and his mother to cancer.
‘Anselmo was the first time I really loved someone selflessly,’ he says. ‘I was absolutely terrified of losing him and of the prospect of watching him die of Aids.’