Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami

Filmmaker Sophie Fiennes spent a decade working on this observational profile of the indomitable singer Grace Jones. Although this isn't a conventional concert film, Fiennes builds the documentary around full-length stage performances of songs, eschewing archival film and video clips in favor of present-day material. Jones, who recently turned 70, is as imposing as ever. Onstage, the actress-musician-model wears high heels, velvet corsets, sequin jackets, and glittery lace and feathered hats by Philip Treacy. When she isn't performing, Jones spends time in the studio, plays dates in Europe, and visits family members in Jamaica. While working on her last album, 2008's Hurricane, she grows exasperated when Sly and Robbie, the production duo who helped shape her classic ‘80s Island albums, pull a disappearing act. She also argues with the producers of a French TV program who insist on surrounding her with scantily clad dancers. Jones has a much less stressful relationship with her band member son, Paulo, who becomes a father during filming. Throughout, her accent changes depending on the locale, from British to Jamaican to French (her ex-husband, photographer Jean-Paul Goude, is French). Fiennes captures Jones in candid moments (many revolving around the artful application of makeup) but offers little in the way of facts and figures about her career. Still, the filmmaker's unfettered access allows for an intimate profile of the day-to-day life of an icon. Extras include two audio commentaries featuring Jones, Fiennes, and others, and a Q&A with Jones. Recommended. Aud: P. (K. Fennessy)