Art History Doc ‘The World According to Allee Willis’ Official Trailer

Art History Doc ‘The World According to Allee Willis’ Official Trailer

by Alex Billington
October 25, 2024
Source: YouTube

“She always wanted people to know their own brilliance and creativity.” Magnolia Pictures has unveiled an official trailer for a documentary film called The World According to Allee Willis, a life-affirming and deeply inspiring look at an amazing artist named Allee Willis. Willis passed away in 2019 at the age of 72, but left behind tons of archival footage and recordings, which have been put together to make this doc film about her. Songwriter / artist Allee Willis began filming her life as a kid in 1950s Detroit & never stopped. She pursued creative expression at all costs while struggling to fit established gender and sexual norms – until she found a path to love through self-acceptance. Willis co-wrote hit songs including “September” & “Boogie Wonderland” by Earth, Wind & Fire, “What Have I Done to Deserve This?” by Pet Shop Boys. She also won two Grammy Awards for Beverly Hills Cop and The Color Purple. The doc features appearances by tons of big names including Mark Cuban, Cyndi Lauper, Lily Tomlin, Paul Reubens, Michael Patrick King, Patti LaBelle, Pet Shop Boys, and Mark Mothersbaugh (of Devo fame). I’m fascinated to learn all about her.

Official trailer (+ posters) for Alexis Spraic’s doc The World According to Allee Willis, from YouTube:

Take one look at award-winning songwriter and artist Allee Willis and you see someone unafraid to be themselves. Dressed in a cacophony of prints and colors, her signature asymmetrical haircut, and famed parties at her real-life Pee-wee’s Playhouse, Allee didn’t waste any opportunity to tell you what she was about. But privately, Allee struggled with not fitting established gender & sexual norms. She buried herself in her work, until true love manifested her ultimate masterpiece – self-acceptance. Allee began filming her life in 1950s Detroit and never stopped. This film is the realization of her wish that her “final art piece be someone putting together the trail I have left behind.” The World According to Allee Willis is directed by American doc filmmaker Alex Spraic, director of Shadow Billionaire, Ray Charles America, Power, and Built to Fail previously, plus a few other short films. Produced by Alexis Manya Spraic, Nicholas Coles. This initially premiered at the 2024 SXSW Film Festival earlier this year. Magnolia Pics will release The World According to Allee Willis in select US theaters on November 15th, 2024, plus VOD starting November 22nd this fall – with nationwide screenings on November 19th. For more info, visit the film’s official site.

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