When the world premiere of Michael — the long-awaited biopic about the King of Pop — took place at the Uber Eats Music Hall in Berlin as part of the Global Fan Celebration organised by Lionsgate, Universal Pictures and the Estate of Michael Jackson, one of the seats in that screening room belonged to Monaco-based film producer and philanthropist Monika Bacardi.
She was, according to those present, the only Monegasque invited to attend — welcomed personally by the Jackson brothers alongside the film’s cast and director Antoine Fuqua.
A premiere like no other
The three-day Global Fan Celebration drew thousands of Michael Jackson fans to Berlin, with a red carpet, an immersive exhibition featuring costumes and behind-the-scenes displays, panel discussions with the cast and crew, and a closing party. But at the heart of it all was the film itself — a project that has been building anticipation for years and that, based on early reactions from those who saw it, appears to have delivered.
Bacardi watched the screening with the dual perspective of someone who operates on both sides of the emotional and professional divide — as an engaged viewer and as a producer who understands precisely what each scene costs in terms of craft, research and execution. What she witnessed left a strong impression.
“There were moments when I forgot I was watching an actor,” she said. “The boundary between the performer and reality seemed to dissolve completely.”
Jaafar Jackson’s debut
At the centre of the film is Jaafar Jackson — son of Jermaine, nephew of Michael — making his feature film debut under Fuqua’s direction. Early reactions from Berlin suggest he brings something beyond physical resemblance: a stage presence that evokes the myth convincingly, capturing not only the gestures and the voice but something considerably harder to define and harder still to achieve.
In a landscape where biopics have proliferated with uneven results, Michael appears to distinguish itself through its ambition and its meticulous artistic fidelity, according to Bacardi.
Returning to Monaco after what she described as a lightning visit to Berlin, Bacardi spoke of the experience not as a professional engagement but as a privilege — the privilege of being among the first to witness what she believes will leave a lasting mark on audiences worldwide.
Michael is distributed by Universal Pictures. A global release date is expected imminently.
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