Every day, countless people post pictures on Instagram or videos on YouTube in hopes of their big break. That modeling contract or singing career is a dream for so many and just a short time ago, Princess Shaw was among the millions hopeless romantics, posting videos on her YouTube channel. Though she was among the crowd, Princess is different. Not only is her talent unmatched, her energy and natural charisma caught the eye of just the right person who not only helped her achieve her musical goals but also gave her the confidence to believe in herself. Filmmaker, Ido Haar’s documentary, “Presenting Princess Shaw,” is an inspiring portrait of a girl who deserves the world’s recognition, and with hard work and a bit of luck, is able to see her dreams come true.
The man who discovered Princess’s untapped talent is Israeli artist Ophir Kutiel, who goes by the pseudonym Kutiman, and the film opens with him. Kutiman is a man of few words, but a gifted musician, creating virtual symphonies solely through user-generated YouTube videos. As he was looking for vocals to lay on top of an instrumental track he was working on, he finds Princess’s YouTube channel, flooded with tons of original songs she wrote and performed, and devotes his time to watching every last one. Kutiman decides to use one of her songs, “Give It Up,” and surprise Princess by uploading the finished piece to YouTube without telling her, leaving it to her fans and friends to share the big news.
Meanwhile, in a lower class neighborhood of New Orleans and unaware of any such surprise, “Princess Shaw” aka Samantha Montgomery, 38, is struggling to make ends meet. Working as a nurse, she barely can afford rent, let alone car payments when her car breaks down and tires get stolen, leaving her with little mobility. Still, her positivity and radiance continue to shine through her vocals, which she exudes at any chance she gets. From singing with strangers on the street to the elderly in the hospital, Princess Shaw is the epitome of a ray of sunshine. However, her songs are not always so cheery. A survivor of sexual abuse, Princess’s songs run deep with emotional lyrics and raw emotion. Her life’s story has been a turbulent one, and so we are happily rooting for her when we see her dreams coming true before our eyes.
Ido Haar’s unique construction of this documentary brings two people from opposite sides of the world together to create beautiful music. It is a heartwarming testament to the age-old saying that the universal language is music, which as a whole, is inspiring. There are a few aspects of the film that seemed to drag a bit, at times it feels as if we are exclusively scrolling through Princess’s YouTube feed as opposed to watching the film. The film also cuts back and forth from Louisiana to Israel frequently, and I felt like the scenes with Kutiman at home seemed overly staged, forcibly taking me out of the naturalistic, documentary setting.
A lot of stars had to align in order to make this documentary, let alone make it successful. First, finding the talent, the needle in the haystack of countless YouTube hopefuls dying for their big break. Plus, keeping the big reveal a secret to Princess until literally the moment she discovered the video online. Also, the reception of the song, “Give It Up,” was not immune to criticism, so there was no way of knowing just how well the song would be accepted. Then there is the personality of the star, Princess, and how she would translate on camera. Director Ido Haar took a risk by counting on all of these components to work out, and his risk paid off in insurmountable ways. Director Ido Haar took a risk by relying on all of these components to work out, and his risk paid off in insurmountable ways. Not only has he created an inspiring story of hope and perseverance, he has essentially re-made the Cinderella story for the millennial generation.
“Presenting Princess Shaw” is not rated. Opens in theaters, on iTunes, Amazon video, and VOD on Friday, 5/27.
