Love to Love You, Donna Summer

Love to Love You, Donna Summer
Love to Love You, Donna Summer
	Official release poster
Directed by	Roger Ross Williams; Brooklyn Sudano;
Produced by	Julie Goldman; Christopher Clements; Carolyn Hepburn; Roger Ross Williams; David Blackman;
Edited by	Enat Sidi; Jon Stray;
Music by	T. Griffin
Production; companies	HBO Documentary Films; PolyGram Entertainment; Motto Pictures; Federal Films; One Story Up Productions;
Distributed by	HBO
Release dates	February 17, 2023 (Berlinale); May 20, 2023;
Running time	105 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Love to Love You, Donna Summer is a 2023 American documentary film directed by Roger Ross Williams and Brooklyn Sudano. It follows the life and career of Donna Summer.

The film had its world premiere at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival on February 17, 2023. It was released on May 20, 2023, by HBO. The project was nominated at the 8th Critics' Choice Documentary Awards for Best Music Documentary.^[2]

Plot

It follows the life and career of Donna Summer.

Production

Brooklyn Sudano wanted to make a documentary revolving around her mother, Donna Summer, after realizing there was more to her than people knew.^[3] Roger Ross Williams also wanted to make a documentary revolving around Summer, while discussing a potential project with Julie Goldman, Goldman connected the two.^[4]^[5] Williams and Sudano did not want the project to be a puff piece, instead exploring difficult aspects of Summer's life and career.^[6] Sudano and Williams opted to use Summer speaking in her own words, using audiotapes recorded for her memoir Ordinary Girl.^[7]

In December 2021, it was announced Roger Ross Williams and Brooklyn Sudano would direct a documentary film revolving around Donna Summer.^[8]

Release

The film had its world premiere at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival on February 17, 2023.^[9]^[10] It also screened at South by Southwest on March 11, 2023.^[1]^[11] It was released on May 20, 2023, by HBO.^[12]^[13]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 82% based on 28 reviews, with an average rating of 7.3/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "An enigmatic documentary about an equally enigmatic singer, Love to Love You, Donna Summer's got you covered from disco to soul."^[14] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 62 out of 100, based on 6 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".^[15]

References

^ ^a ^b "Love to Love You, Donna Summer". South by Southwest. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
^ Lewis, Hilary (16 October 2023). "Critics Choice Documentary Awards: 'American Symphony' Leads With Six Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
^ Grobar, Jason (April 27, 2023). "Brooklyn Sudano and Roger Ross Williams on Their Donna Summer Doc". POV. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
^ Blake, Meredith (May 19, 2023). "Donna Summer documentary examines the pain behind the disco decadence". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
^ Carey, Matthew (March 14, 2023). "Roger Ross Williams & Brooklyn Sudano – Donna Summer's Daughter – On Their Film About A Music Icon: "She Was A True Artist" – SXSW Studio". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
^ Chiu, David (May 19, 2023). "'Love To Love You, Donna Summer': A Candid Documentary About The Queen Of Disco". Forbes. Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
^ McLachlan, Megan (May 19, 2023). "'Love to Love You, Donna Summer' Directors Brooklyn Sudano & Roger Ross Williams Talk Why Summer is So Much More Than Disco". Awards Daily. Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
^ Carey, Matthew (December 16, 2021). "Polygram Entertainment Launches Donna Summer Doc Project, With Singer's Daughter Brooklyn Sudano And Oscar Winner Roger Ross Williams Directing". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
^ Keslassy, Elsa (January 30, 2023). "Donna Summer Documentary, Disney Animation Celebration Complete Berlinale Special Lineup". Variety. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
^ "Love to Love You, Donna Summer". Berlin International Film Festival. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 1, 2023). "SXSW Second Wave Includes UAR's 'Bottoms', Donald Glover's 'Swarm' Series, Michelle Yeoh's 'American Born Chinese' & More". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
^ "HBO Original Documentary LOVE TO LOVE YOU, DONNA SUMMER Debuts May 2023" (Press release). Warner Bros. Discovery. February 3, 2023. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
^ "What's New On HBO Max This May" (Press release). Warner Bros. Discovery. April 24, 2023. Archived from the original on April 24, 2023. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
^ "Love to Love You, Donna Summer". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on April 17, 2024. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
^ "Love to Love You, Donna Summer". Metacritic. Archived from the original on May 23, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2023.

External links

Love to Love You, Donna Summer at IMDb

[south-1] "Love to Love You, Donna Summer". South by Southwest. Retrieved February 6, 2023.

[2] Lewis, Hilary (16 October 2023). "Critics Choice Documentary Awards: 'American Symphony' Leads With Six Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 12 November 2023.

[3] Grobar, Jason (April 27, 2023). "Brooklyn Sudano and Roger Ross Williams on Their Donna Summer Doc". POV. Retrieved May 19, 2023.

[4] Blake, Meredith (May 19, 2023). "Donna Summer documentary examines the pain behind the disco decadence". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2023.

[5] Carey, Matthew (March 14, 2023). "Roger Ross Williams & Brooklyn Sudano – Donna Summer's Daughter – On Their Film About A Music Icon: "She Was A True Artist" – SXSW Studio". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2023.

[6] Chiu, David (May 19, 2023). "'Love To Love You, Donna Summer': A Candid Documentary About The Queen Of Disco". Forbes. Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2023.

[7] McLachlan, Megan (May 19, 2023). "'Love to Love You, Donna Summer' Directors Brooklyn Sudano & Roger Ross Williams Talk Why Summer is So Much More Than Disco". Awards Daily. Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2023.

[8] Carey, Matthew (December 16, 2021). "Polygram Entertainment Launches Donna Summer Doc Project, With Singer's Daughter Brooklyn Sudano And Oscar Winner Roger Ross Williams Directing". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 6, 2023.

[9] Keslassy, Elsa (January 30, 2023). "Donna Summer Documentary, Disney Animation Celebration Complete Berlinale Special Lineup". Variety. Retrieved February 6, 2023.

[10] "Love to Love You, Donna Summer". Berlin International Film Festival. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023. Retrieved February 6, 2023.

[11] D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 1, 2023). "SXSW Second Wave Includes UAR's 'Bottoms', Donald Glover's 'Swarm' Series, Michelle Yeoh's 'American Born Chinese' & More". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved February 6, 2023.

[12] "HBO Original Documentary LOVE TO LOVE YOU, DONNA SUMMER Debuts May 2023" (Press release). Warner Bros. Discovery. February 3, 2023. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023. Retrieved February 6, 2023.

[13] "What's New On HBO Max This May" (Press release). Warner Bros. Discovery. April 24, 2023. Archived from the original on April 24, 2023. Retrieved April 24, 2023.

[14] "Love to Love You, Donna Summer". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on April 17, 2024. Retrieved December 9, 2023.

[15] "Love to Love You, Donna Summer". Metacritic. Archived from the original on May 23, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2023.

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v t e Donna Summer
Discography Awards
Studio albums	Lady of the Night (1974) Love to Love You Baby (1975) A Love Trilogy (1976) Four Seasons of Love (1976) I Remember Yesterday (1977) Once Upon a Time (1977) Bad Girls (1979) The Wanderer (1980) I'm a Rainbow (rec. 1981, rel. 1996) Donna Summer (1982) She Works Hard for the Money (1983) Cats Without Claws (1984) All Systems Go (1987) Another Place and Time (1989) Mistaken Identity (1991) Christmas Spirit (1994) Crayons (2008)
Live albums	Live and More (1978) Live & More Encore (1999)
Compilations	On the Radio: Greatest Hits Volumes I & II (1979) Walk Away: Collector's Edition (The Best of 1977–1980) (1980) The Summer Collection: Greatest Hits (1985) The Dance Collection: A Compilation of Twelve Inch Singles (1987) The Donna Summer Anthology (1993) Endless Summer: Donna Summer's Greatest Hits (1994) The Ultimate Collection (2003) The Journey: The Very Best of Donna Summer (2003) Gold (2005) Singles... Driven by the Music (2015) The Ultimate Collection (2016)
Remix albums	Love to Love You Donna (2013)
Singles	"The Hostage" (1974) "Lady of the Night" (1974) "Virgin Mary" (1975) "Love to Love You Baby" (1975) "Could It Be Magic (1976) "Try Me, I Know We Can Make It (1976) "Spring Affair (1976) "Winter Melody (1977) "Can't We Just Sit Down (And Talk It Over)" (1977) "I Feel Love" (1977) "Shut Out" (1977) "Down Deep Inside" (1977) "I Remember Yesterday" (1977) "Love's Unkind" (1977) "I Love You" (1977) "Rumour Has It" (1978) "Last Dance" (1978) "Back in Love Again" (1978) "MacArthur Park" (1978) "Heaven Knows" (1978) "Hot Stuff" (1979) "Bad Girls" (1979) "Dim All the Lights" (1979) "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" (1979) "On the Radio" (1979) "Sunset People" (1980) "Walk Away" (1980) "The Wanderer" (1980) "Cold Love" (1980) "Who Do You Think You're Foolin'" (1981) "Love Is in Control (Finger on the Trigger)" (1982) "State of Independence" (1982) "I Feel Love (Patrick Cowley Remix)" (1982) "The Woman in Me" (1983) "Protection" (1983) "She Works Hard for the Money" (1983) "Unconditional Love" (1983) "Love Has a Mind of Its Own" (1984) "There Goes My Baby" (1984) "Supernatural Love" (1984) "Eyes" (1984) "Dinner with Gershwin" (1987) "Only the Fool Survives" (1987) "This Time I Know It's for Real" (1989) "I Don't Wanna Get Hurt" (1989) "Love's About to Change My Heart" (1989) "Breakaway" (1989) "When Love Takes Over You" (1989) "State of Independence (New Bass Remix)" (1990) "When Love Cries" (1991) "Work That Magic" (1991) "Carry On" (1992) "La Vie en rose" (1994) "Melody of Love (Wanna Be Loved)" (1994) "Any Way at All" (1994) "I Feel Love (Remix)" (1995) "Whenever There Is Love" (1996) "I Will Go with You (Con te partirò)" (1999) "Love Is the Healer" (1999) "The Power of One" (2000) "You're So Beautiful" (2003) "Dream-A-Lot's Theme (I Will Live for Love)" (2004) "I Got Your Love" (2005) "I'm a Fire" (2008) "Stamp Your Feet" (2008) "It's Only Love" (2008) "Fame (The Game)" (2008) "To Paris with Love" (2010)
Related topics	Brooklyn Dreams Pete Bellotte Joe "Bean" Esposito Giorgio Moroder Bruce Sudano Neil Bogart Paul Jabara Sunshine "Down Deep Inside" Love to Love You, Donna Summer (2023)