Streaming with closed captions
Artscapes: Creative minds, artistic pursuits and inventive filmmaking
Australia's self-crowned "Queen of Honky Tonk" Wanita Bahtiyar has dreamt of being a star since the age of three. Not short on sass or talent at the mic, it's the 25 years of outrageous offstage antics that have turned her real life into the stuff of a country song. Hard partying, parenting, sex work and helping out absolutely anyone in need have worn her non-neurotypical spirit out. Estranged from her daughter and barely endured by her Turkish cowboy husband, Wanita has burned every bridge in the business. With the help of two musicians, she's got one last chance to travel to Nashville and record an album with a legendary producer. Can she hold it together long enough to lay down her blazing tracks or will she flame out for good? Is she a harebrained diva of song, or simply a misunderstood woman denied success all her life? This raucous pursuit of a dream inspires as it sings her fantastically imperfect praises. Myrocia Watamaniuk
Artscapes program sponsored by
MEDIA COVERAGE
- Screen Daily - Can a middle-aged Australian country singer finally get her big break?
- The Moveable Fest - "An exuberant portrait"
- POV Magazine - "Proof that a rich imperfect character can fuel a great documentary if the director approaches her with the proper fearlessness"