Nothing Compares, a documentary about Sinead O’Connor, will still air on Saturday to give viewers the chance to “hear him tell his side of the story”, according to the filmmaker.
Belfast-born director Kathryn Ferguson has confirmed original plans to air the program on Sky Documentaries and Now from July 29 will go ahead despite the Grammy-winning singer and songwriter’s recent death at the age of 56. .
The decision to go ahead with the show was made after careful consideration following the death of the musician.
The 2022 documentary delves into the late Irish star’s journey to international stardom, particularly following the release of her rendition of Nothing Compares 2 U, and the controversies she faced due to her outspoken protests.
The Irish singer in her music video for Nothing Compares 2 U
“We have been planning to release Nothing Compares today on Sky/Now for a very long time and after careful consideration we will be moving forward with this plan,” Ferguson tweeted on Saturday.
“The reaction to the film and the love for Sinead has been palpable and we think screening it this weekend is the right thing to do, so people can see her in all her glory and hear her tell her version of the story.”
She added: “An option rarely given to her by certain facets of the media who have spent so much time reducing everything she has to say.
“Nothing Compares is a love letter to Sinead. It meant the absolute world to me and I know it meant to many of you.
“Watch the film, feel the rage, have a good cry and remember this woman for her radical and magical ways and all she has done for us. I have never been so proud to be Irish .”
The documentary examines pivotal moments in O’Connor’s career in the late 80s and early 90s through a “contemporary feminist lens”.
The singer shot to fame with some highly acclaimed albums, including her 1987 debut, The Lion And The Cobra, and the Grammy-winning follow-up I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got.
The documentary examines pivotal moments in O’Connor’s career in the late 80s and early 90s
Over the decades, she released eight more albums, with her latest, I’m Not Bossy, I’m The Boss, released in 2014.
The Irish musician was renowned for her strong stances on social and political issues, including when she ripped up a photo of Pope John Paul II on the American sketch show Saturday Night Live in 1992, protesting against the Catholic Church, which provoked a vehement reaction.
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The documentary features clips from his music videos and live performances, as well as never-before-seen footage and a more recent interview.
Ferguson has previously expressed her desire for the documentary to “serve as a reminder of her greatness”, as she described O’Connor as “a special, funny and beautiful human being”.
She added: “His fire lit a torch for so many of us, especially those growing up in the 1990s and those who really needed his light.”
The filmmaker also expressed her gratitude for the “tremendous privilege” of creating the program with the singer’s endorsement.
The documentary first premiered at the Sundance World Cinema Documentary Competition in 2022 and was later released in theaters in October of the same year.
It received several nominations and won Best Documentary Feature at the Irish Film & Television Awards.
Nothing Compares airs on Sky Documentaries at 9pm and will be available on the Now subscription service. It will also air on Sky Showcase and Sky Arts.