Watch Presenting Princess Shaw

Presenting Princess Shaw is a documentary film from 2015 directed by Ido Haar that follows the life of Samantha Montgomery, a New Orleans resident and aspiring singer-songwriter who posts her original music on YouTube under the pseudonym "Princess Shaw." The movie centers on her struggles as a young woman from a broken home with a difficult past, who feels like nobody hears her music. Despite her difficult life, Samantha remains positive and uses music as a catharsis for her pain.

However, what Samantha doesn't know is that she is about to cross paths with an unlikely collaborator who will change her life forever. Kutiman is an Israeli composer, musician, and YouTube sensation who is known for creating viral remixes of musicians and street performers from all over the world. When he stumbles across one of Samantha's videos on YouTube, Kutiman is immediately drawn to the raw emotion in her voice and decides to incorporate it into one of his compositions.

The rest of the film follows Kutiman as he works on his composition, weaving together Princess Shaw's voice with various other sounds from around the world to create a mesmerizing piece of music. Meanwhile, Samantha goes about her daily life, unaware that her music is being transformed into something much bigger than she ever imagined.

One of the most touching aspects of Presenting Princess Shaw is the way it depicts Samantha's vulnerability and resilience. Samantha is an open book, sharing her deepest fears and struggles with the camera as she navigates the ups and downs of her life. Her honesty is refreshing and makes her story all the more compelling.

Another key theme of the film is the power of music to bring people together across borders and cultures. Kutiman's composition, which features musicians from all over the world, is a testament to the ways in which music can break down barriers and create a sense of unity. The film also underscores the role that YouTube and other social media platforms have played in democratizing the music industry, allowing unknown artists like Samantha to be heard by millions of people all over the world.

In addition to its emotional content, Presenting Princess Shaw is also a technically impressive film. Haar skillfully weaves together footage of Samantha's everyday life with Kutiman's creative process, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how music is made in the age of the internet. The film is also beautifully shot, with stunning images of New Orleans and other parts of the world.

Overall, Presenting Princess Shaw is a touching and inspiring documentary about one woman's journey to find her voice and the unlikely collaboration that turned her dreams into reality. It is a testament to the power of music, the importance of community, and the resilience of the human spirit.

Presenting Princess Shaw is a 2016 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 20 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.8 and a MetaScore of 77.