The Southern California Community Choir were in place to provide backing vocals while the much esteemed and refreshingly charismatic Reverend James Cleveland fit well as the event’s host. It is a rather dilapidated, dimly lit church hall that is revealed in the opening scenes of Amazing Grace, just over half full with folk donning an impressive array of afros, silk shirts and flared suits, but brimming with anticipation.

Then suddenly, without any fuss or accompaniment, Franklin herself glides up an aisle on the left, gently touching extended hands on her way, cloaked in an almost regal yet elegantly simple white gown, her own particular afro almost halo like, perfectly crowning her surprisingly focused and introverted expression.

It is an act of amazing grace indeed, to behold Franklin as she takes to the pulpit and fills that church hall with unadulterated, unhinged praise songs such as “Give Yourself to Jesus” and “Mary, Don’t You Weep”. Her voice is powerful, evocative and it is immediately clear to us, with her eyes closed throughout almost all her singing and her head raised above, that Franklin has transcended the four walls surrounding her as she sings in awe of the Saviour she so clearly loves.

Amazing Grace review: this Aretha Franklin film teleports you to a simpler time