SPILL FILM REVIEW: JUNE – THE STORY OF JUNE CARTER CASH

JUNE – THE STORY OF JUNE CARTER CASH

SANDBOX PRODUCTIONS/SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT/MAXINE PRODUCTIONS (A PART OF SONY PICTURES TELEVISION)

JANUARY 16, 2024

June Carter Cash was born Valerie June Carter on June 23, 1929, in Maces Springs, Virginia. She was a member of the famous Carter Family and the second wife of singer Johnny Cash. Carter had been a beloved figure in the spotlight since she was six. She took a backseat in her career when she married the iconic Man in Black, Johnny Cash. While there is an abundance of information and movies about Johnny’s life, June’s story has often been overlooked.

However, that is about to change. The documentary film, titled “June,” was created by director Kristen Vaurio in collaboration with Sandbox Productions, Sony Music Entertainment, and Maxine Productions (a part of Sony Pictures Television). On January 16, 2024, Paramount+ released this documentary film about June Carter Cash’s life.

The remarkable career of June Carter Cash and her iconic contributions to the entertainment industry are showcased in the film through exclusive archival material that has never been seen before. Close friends and collaborators such as Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Emmie Lou Harris, Marty Robins, and many others make it clear that there is a whole other side to the June Carter Cash story, one that deserves recognition and understanding.

The film’s central theme portrays the romantic relationship between June and Johnny. In the 2005 movie “Walk the Line,” their love story gives the impression that June saved Johnny from his addiction, and they subsequently lived happily ever after. However, this depiction is far from reality as they face real struggles. The film delves into the valuable lessons that can be learned from the relationship and marriage of June and Johnny. June and Johnny had to endure living in the public eye, working and residing together, and constantly being on tour to the extent that their lives became like a religion, as described by their daughter.

In June’s own account, she characterizes the first decade of their marriage as resembling a fairy tale from a book. Throughout those ten years, they were constantly together, inseparable, and always by each other’s side. It was a harmonious, affectionate, family bonding time in the 1970s. However, the film takes you behind the scenes of the 1980s, where life begins to unravel.

Apart from the love story between June and Johnny, the most inspiring aspect of the film is how June embraced and supported struggling musicians at their home in Hendersonville, Tennessee. She not only provided for their basic needs but also showed a genuine interest in their careers. June had an intuitive understanding of who had the potential to succeed in the music industry and who did not. At the same time, June would warn their girlfriends of the downside of marrying a successful music entertainer.

The film’s conclusion presents an intriguing prediction by June that she would pass away before Johnny, which, ironically, she did. Johnny’s life ended merely four months after June’s passing. Johnny’s children anxiously awaited to see if their father could continue living without the woman he loved dearly. Unfortunately, he demonstrated that he could not.

Rest assured, the filmmakers behind “June” have done a commendable job in creating a movie that effectively entertains and evokes emotional responses from viewers. “June” is a film that truly lives up to the expectations of Carter-Cash enthusiasts, making it a must-watch for them and everyone. Make sure you are settled comfortably on the couch with your favorite snacks and a cozy blanket to tune in to Paramount+ for this captivating film.

June is still pressing on even after death, claiming center stage one more time and reminding us that we, too, can let our little light shine if we press on.

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