With one hand sunk in the commonly understood world of teen emotions and the other sunk in the rare life of stardom, Billie Eilish does many things except one: pretend to be anyone but herself. Released Friday of February 26th on Apple TV+, “Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry” gives viewers an in-depth look into Eilish’s life as she works to create her debut album while sorting out the blurry lines of transitioning into adulthood. 

The documentary is like a scrapbook, it is pieced together by clips of Eilish and her family, with no narration necessary. It is built from the bottom to the top, clips filmed while Eilish and her brother first started working on the album, no mention of success guaranteed from the beginning. This approach allows for an inclusive feeling, as the footage creates a story of singing in a childhood bedroom to standing on a stage with five Grammys to unfold naturally. 

Eilish opens up about her mental health struggles frequently in the two-and-a-half-hour run, showing the camera her journal, which bears words and drawings relating to wishing to not be alive. These lines often end up in her music, and the pictures become the basis of music videos. When asked by interviewers why she strays from writing joyful music, she admits she doesn’t want to write about something she never feels; all she wants to do is resonate with her audience, as she says that everyone is dealing with their own struggles. 

It is easy to see throughout the screentime that Eilish is simply herself; her personality and interactions with people stay constant, whether they are her close friends or international fans. Additionally, her close relationship with her family shines through, and it’s fortunate that it does. Eilish’s story is deeply embedded in family and, for viewers, it teaches the importance of maintaining those close relationships. When Eilish feels insecure about her singing, her brother, who produces her music by her side, assures her that many people love her. That support is a prominent reason why Eilish is able to carry on despite the pressure on her young shoulders.

Perhaps most importantly, the film shows the raw human side of Billie. It does not only show her good moments, but also ones where she struggles with stress before shows, shouts that she doesn’t wish to talk to people from labels, and can not always maintain a smile for her fans. However, the documentary’s ability to show Billie through a large spectrum of emotions paints her as someone that the audience feels like they’ve known for a long time, and all of a sudden, there’s a comfort in knowing that someone feels the same as you. Just like that, Billie Eilish’s documentary replicates exactly what her music does. It connects to people by truly being just what it is, relying on the beauty of the mundane and display of human life through it’s lows and spare highs. 

Rating: 4/5