Jimmy Somerville: Queer Rebel of British Pop

This documentary follows the life and career of singer Jimmy Somerville, tracing his journey from the working-class districts of Glasgow to the 1980s new wave music scene. It examines how he used his distinct falsetto voice to create songs about resilience and freedom, addressing themes such as the AIDS crisis and the challenges of growing up gay. The film explores his evolution as a performer through his time with Bronski Beat and The Communards, and his subsequent work as a solo artist, framing him as a voice for equality and minority rights. The portrait is shaped by personal accounts from friends and colleagues who have known him for forty years.

Directed by Olivier Simonnet and produced in France by companies including ARTE and Sacem, the film features archival footage of Jimmy Somerville. The cast includes narrator Félix Maritaud and interviews with Sarah-Jane Morris, June Miles-Kingston, Richard Coles, and Didier Lestrade. This music documentary has a runtime of 52 minutes and was released on May 7, 2025.