Screens /Movies

Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story

Performed by Makayla Walker, animated Jackie Shane performs her hit song “Money” Image courtesy of Banger Films and the NFB

Where: Hot Docs Festival
What: Movie, 98 mins.
When: Sat., April 27 (9 pm) TIFF Lightbox; Sun., April 28 (8:45 pm) TIFF Lightbox; Sat., May 4 (8 pm) Hot Docs
Genre: Documentary
Rating: NNNN (out of 5)
Why you should watch: This eye-opening and inspiring doc celebrates Black trans R&B music pioneer Jackie Shane, who had a short, shining career that saw them briefly land in Toronto in the ’60s — and then disappear. On stage, Shane was a combination of James Brown, Little Richard and Prince, and they thrilled Toronto audiences in the city’s Yonge Street club scene. Shane had abandoned their Nashville home because of racism and homophobia, making their way northeast before spending time in Montreal and, eventually, Toronto.

The filmmakers reached Shane, who had returned to Nashville decades earlier before they subsequently passed in 2019, and recorded a series of revealing phone interviews that form the foundation of the film, using animation to illustrate Shane’s conversations. The filmmakers also locate Shane’s only living relatives, who were not aware of the singer while they were still alive but who ultimately inherited a museum worth of artifacts including costumes, music, photos and more. Queer and trans performers influenced by Shane, including Toronto’s James Bayley are interviewed as well as music historian Rob Bowman. The story is both inspiring and heartbreaking. Inspiring because of Shane’s determination to be themselves and be heard; heartbreaking because, ultimately, the only way Shane felt they could be their true selves was to disappear behind closed doors, living as a recluse until the end, their brilliant stage career abandoned. A fantastic live album from a week of Toronto shows at the Superior Lounge in the ’60s, was discovered, released and Grammy-nominated before Shane’s death, and it looked like the singer was finally going to get back into the spotlight. Sadly, fate yet again had different plans for Shane. An important figure in music and queer history and a massive talent who deserves to be heard.