As "June" (2023 release; 98 min.) opens, it is 1998 and we get footage from then 70 yo June Carter Cash as she is recording her first solo studio album in 25 (!) years. We then go back in time to June's early years, being part of the Carter family, including how she started appearing at a very young age on the weekly Grand Ole Opry TV show. At this point we are 10 minutes into the documentary.
Coupe of comments: this is the latest documentary from director Kristen Vaurio ("Robin Williams: Come Enter My Mind", "Going Clear: Scientology & the Prison of Belief"). Here she looks back at the life and times of one of country music's most iconic woman, June Carter. The overall feeling an approach to this documentary reminds me of a Ken Burns production: careful, well researched, and featuring of course plenty of rare photos and footage. Frankly the documentary is at its best when it deals with June's pre-Johnny Cash years, including her move to New York in the late 50s. And also this: we all too often forget that Johnny's mega-hit "Ring of Fire" was written by... June Carter. There isn't much truly revelatory in this documentary but it is a great reminder why June Carter was so much more than Johnny Cash's wife. Also this: couldn't the film makers come up with a more original title than "June"? It's almost impossible to google this documentary, as it steers you to movies set to be released in June of 2024, or some other variation of that.
"June" started streaming on Paramount+ a week or so ago, and I finally caught it the other night. If you are in the mood for a decent documentary on one of country music's most iconic figures, I'd readily suggest you check this out and draw your own conclusion.
