Stay Prayed Up

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2:12

Stay Prayed Up

2022

1h 12m

Documentary

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Popcornmeter

83%

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6 Reviews

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A spirited celebration of 83-year-old Lena Mae Perry and her legendary North Carolina gospel group The Branchettes. The film documents The Branchettes as they record their first, fully live album. Through shared prayer, laughter, hardship and praise, this "church gospel noisy crew" demonstrates that music, like faith, ain't nothing without some fire inside.

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Glenn Kenny

New York Times

Jun 16, 2022

As self-promotional ventures go, this is an effort of integrity and good will, and packs in a lot of spirited music that more or less sells itself.

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Lovia Gyarkye

The Hollywood Reporter

Nov 20, 2021

The power of gospel music comes alive here, and the doc's subjects, the practitioners of this fervent form, keep it engaging.

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Todd Jorgenson

Cinemalogue

Jul 8, 2022

As the film examines Perry’s commitment to her faith through her powerhouse voice, there might not be any groundbreaking insight, but it shines an inspirational spotlight.

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Pat Padua

Spectrum Culture

Jul 5, 2022

80/100

Lena Mae Perry’s resilience and beaming personality, as well as the blues-tinged music she’s been making for nearly half a century, make it hard to resist her story. And her long life... makes a strong case for her message as well.

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Stacey Yvonne

Black Girl Nerds

Jun 18, 2022

3.5/5

Perry’s faith is a throughline in the documentary, but even more telling is Perry’s effect on those around her.

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Cameron Meier

MeierMovies.com

Mar 29, 2022

1.25/5

The film struggles to find a unique or fittingly impactful way of telling of Perry's story.

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D.L. Anderson

Director

Matt Durning

Director

Lena Mae Perry

Self

Wilbur Tharpe

Self

Phil Cook

Self

Angela Kent

Self

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Synopsis

A spirited celebration of 83-year-old Lena Mae Perry and her legendary North Carolina gospel group The Branchettes. The film documents The Branchettes as they record their first, fully live album. Through shared prayer, laughter, hardship and praise, this "church gospel noisy crew" demonstrates that music, like faith, ain't nothing without some fire inside.

Director: D.L. Anderson, Matt Durning
Producer: Lena C. Williams, Phil Cook, Mikel Barton, Leslie Raymond, Shirlette Ammons, D.L. Anderson, Matt Durning
Distributor: Greenwich Entertainment
Production Co: Vittles Films, Interlocking Pictures
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 17, 2022, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 5, 2022
Runtime: 1h 12m

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