--- title: Respect description: Lisa M. Hendey reviews the new Aretha Franklin biopic, an intimate portrait of an audacious woman who transcended challenges to change our world. image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Respect_Poster_OFFICIAL-1037x1536.jpg --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/respect#) [MEDIA](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/media) # Respect Aug 19, 2021 10:00:00 AM  |  by [Lisa M. Hendey](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/lisa-m-hendey) ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Respect_Poster_OFFICIAL-1037x1536.jpg) *Lisa M. Hendey reviews the new Aretha Franklin biopic, an intimate portrait of an audacious woman who transcended challenges to change our world.* Twice in the space of just a few years, I had the memorable experience of seeing Aretha Franklin perform live. On May 29, 2014, the [Queen of Soul gifted my son Eric and his fellow Harvard graduates with a stirring rendition of the National Anthem](https://youtu.be/-kC59qNwt3A) as she received an honorary Doctorate of Arts in 2014 during the university’s 363rd Commencement. On September 26, 2015, [Ms. Franklin captivated Pope Francis and thousands of us with a ten-minute rendition of Amazing Grace](https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x37vtsh) at the Festival of Families. I feel so blessed to have had these experiences just a few short years before she died of advanced pancreatic cancer on August 16, 2018. On both occasions, her image was captivating and larger than life. As I sat down to screen **Respect**, with Jennifer Hudson starring as Aretha Franklin, I wondered if director Liesl Tommy’s look at this legend could possibly do justice to her magic. I should not have doubted. Hudson, personally selected by Ms. Franklin to share the story of her life, her legendary music, and the stories behind her genius, **was** the embodiment of her idol’s genius. ## Synopsis: > Following the rise of Aretha Franklin’s career from a child singing in her father’s church’s choir to her international superstardom, Respect is the remarkable true story of Franklin’s journey to find her voice. > > Source: [United Artists](https://www.unitedartistsreleasing.com/movie-site/respect-2?fbclid=IwAR3aG5Hv1f6TSJjSz0W5GRaYiPLc7Ie-6THs5_zZkK1ibwLHnXSDX4ZuMTc#about)     In March, [I shared my thoughts on a Franklin-related project](https://lisahendey.com/genius-aretha/), Nat Geo’s [Genius: Aretha](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/tv/shows/genius). I wondered if a biopic on Aretha Franklin’s life could do in just two hours what that dramatic series did in eight episodes. In truth, while they share subject matter, the two experiences shouldn’t be compared. While it moves through an examination of Ms. Franklin’s life and the circumstances that fueled her artistry, **Respect** is so much more than just a musical scrapbook. It goes unsaid that Jennifer Hudson was perhaps born to play this role. She is surrounded by incredible talent, including Forest Whitaker as C. L. Franklin, the Queen’s father; and Audra McDonald as Barbara Franklin, Aretha’s mother. Skye Dakota Turner is breathtaking as Young Aretha Franklin.   ![still_2-1536x1024](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/still_2-1536x1024.jpeg?width=1536&name=still_2-1536x1024.jpeg)   The production values of **Respect**, including meticulous attention to costuming and set design, transport us in time. And more than simply songs, Ms. Franklin’s body of work as performed by Hudson is woven perfectly through a complex script to make the songs a compelling part of the storytelling. I would recommend watching this film less as a perfectly accurate account or biography and more as a look at the culture, unrest, and struggles of an era and the profound impact of one woman’s life on our society. > [Click to tweet: > In her Oscar-worthy performance in @RespectMovie Jennifer Hudson @IAMJHUD brings tenacity, tenderness, spirituality, and soul in channeling the legacy of Aretha Franklin. by @LisaHendey #catholicmom](https://ctt.ac/B8sT2) This film is really about so much more than tremendously awesome music (*although obviously, it’s that too*). With all of the important conversations we are having these days, this is a film that will provoke discussions and rightly bring up hurts, past and present, that we can’t gloss over. Aretha’s life contained so much pain and hurt, but it produced so much joy and beauty. This film does a brilliant job of capturing Ms. Franklin’s legacy in a way that will undoubtedly inspire many to walk boldly through the many doors she opened. In an Oscar-worthy performance, Jennifer Hudson brings tenacity, tenderness, spirituality, and soul in channeling the legacy of Aretha Franklin. **[Respect](https://www.unitedartistsreleasing.com/movie-site/respect-2?fbclid=IwAR3aG5Hv1f6TSJjSz0W5GRaYiPLc7Ie-6THs5_zZkK1ibwLHnXSDX4ZuMTc)** is an intimate portrait of an audacious woman who transcended challenges to change our world. #### Enjoy this bonus video about faith, family, and music:     *Respect launches nationwide on August 13, 2021. The film is rated PG-13 for mature thematic content, strong language including racial epithets, violence, suggestive material, and smoking.*   ![Respect_Poster_OFFICIAL-1037x1536](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Respect_Poster_OFFICIAL-1037x1536.jpeg?width=1037&name=Respect_Poster_OFFICIAL-1037x1536.jpeg)   --- Copyright 2021 Lisa M. Hendey Image credit: Quatrell D. Colbert, used with permission, all rights reserved. ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Frespect%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Frespect%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Frespect%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Respect) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Frespect%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Frespect%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Lisa M. Hendey](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Lisa%20M%20Hendey%202024.png) ### [Lisa M. Hendey](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/lisa-m-hendey) Lisa M. Hendey is the founder of CatholicMom.com, a bestselling author and an international speaker. A frequent radio and television guest, Hendey travels internationally giving workshops on faith, family, and communications. Visit Lisa at [LisaHendey.com](http://lisahendey.com), on her Substack at [LisaHendey.Substack.com](http://lisahendey.substack.com/), or on social media @LisaHendey for information on her speaking schedule or to invite her to visit your group, parish, school or organization. [Find Lisa’s books on her Amazon author page](https://www.amazon.com/Lisa-M-Hendey/e/B002ZM9FH0). [**](http://facebook.com/lisamhendey) [**](http://twitter.com/lisahendey) ## Related Blog Articles [ Voices of Fire Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/voices-of-fire) [ WHERE HOPE GROWS: A Movie with Heart Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2015/05/11/where-hope-grows-a-movie-with-heart) [ Chime Travelers Series Recognized Among Best Catholic Books for 2016 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/06/20/chime-travelers-series-recognized-among-best-catholic-books-2016) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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