It is a strangely unambitious piece, one that keeps unearthing points of interest and then recoiling from further exploration.

While Let the Canary Sing is undoubtedly a loving portrait of Lauper, it's also a very human portrait of a woman who has always been OK with walking away, or dusting herself down after personal and professional challenges.

One thing is achingly clear in: The only things that truly mattered to Lauper were music and family. In this touching and lovely film, the two come together to show the world the true heart of Lauper’s character the way it’s always been.

You get the impression you are never seeing Lauper's true colors. This is a shame, because she's a remarkable unconventional woman with a generous, compassionate heart...But her willingness to be vulnerable is limited.