In her Netflix documentary, Stefani Germanotta, more popularly known as Lady Gaga, gives viewers an in-depth look at her personal life leading up to her performance at the 2017 Super Bowl. From her emotional breakdowns to mundane scenes in her kitchen, fans and viewers get a taste of Lady Gaga’s real personality, feelings and emotions from the film, titled Gaga: Five Foot Two.
When one thinks of Lady Gaga, the infamous meat dress or her long blonde wigs come to mind, but the documentary and her new album, Joanne, proves she has taken a huge departure from her days of outrageous outfits. Now, Gaga is toning down her look to be more personal and “herself.”
Easily the best aspect of the documentary is how much you get to see Gaga’s true personality and all the glimpses into her personal life.
Many of her fans may not know that she struggles with severe pain as a complication of fibromyalgia. In one particularly sensitive scene, Gaga is lying naked underneath a blanket, crying out in pain. She looks to the camera and asks “Do I look pathetic?” and says she is so embarrassed. The many scenes of her sobbing in pain bring to light just how badly she suffers from the disease. However, you could never tell she is suffering while onstage.
The film also shows touching moments with her family and fans. While visiting family, Gaga reveals the inspiration behind Joanne and sheds some tears with her grandma while listening to her new song. Another scene shows Gaga surprising a fan at a radio show and her tearing up as they talk. Both touching scenes display Gaga’s immense dedication to her family and fans.
Gaga reveals her private life even more by opening up about her previous relationships.
“When I sold 10 million records, I lost Matt [Williams]. I sold 30 million, I lose Luc [Carl]. I get the movie, I lose Taylor [Kinney]. It’s like a turnover,” she says. It’s hard to think that celebrities experience intense loneliness, so it’s truly devastating to hear how lonely Gaga feels.
Gaga’s huge amount of personal growth is another prominent aspect throughout the film. Now we see her more as a mature woman, making music that is personal rather than just pop music to dance to. From her 2013 album ARTPOP to her 2016 album Joanne, she says: “I think I am doing better now. I’m a woman struggling instead of a girl.”
Overall, the documentary provides an amazing insight into the real life of a huge celebrity. It shows Lady Gaga is a real human being with a unique personality and very real feelings and emotions. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of superficial celebrity moments, like when Gaga is getting her makeup done during a doctor’s appointment or when she is freaking out about the lining of her jacket. However, the film reveals that Lady Gaga is a normal person, or as normal as a major celebrity can be.
_Edited by Claire Colby | ccolby@themaneater.com_
