Janis Ian: Breaking Silence

Overview

Janis Ian: Breaking Silence chronicles the remarkable journey of the Jewish singer-songwriter Janis Ian, beginning with her teen years when she was a precocious member of the vibrant Greenwich Village folk scene and jammed late at night with such legends as Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. In the mid-70s, she ascends to major stardom with such hits as “Stars,” about the transient nature of fame (covered by Nina Simone and Cher) and “Jesse,” the wistful lament of a lonely person waiting for their lover to return home (covered to great success by the R&B singer Roberta Flack and Folk icon Joan Baez).

Featuring interviews with Ian’s extraordinary community of friends and collaborators, including folk luminaries Arlo Guthrie, Joan Baez, and Tom Paxton, as well as Hollywood greats Lily Tomlin, Jean Smart, and Laurie Metcalf. Her body of work has earned her an honored place in folk and pop music history and continues to influence new generations of artists and activists. While Janis Ian embraces her Jewish upbringing, upholds feminist values, and advocates for LGBTQ+ rights, her story and music transcend the boundaries of identity politics, making her career a universal story relatable by all.