Nothing Compares

Nothing Compares, directed by Kathryn Ferguson, is a documentary about the life and legacy of Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor, focused especially on the years 1987 to 1993; it had its world premiere at Sundance on January 21, 2022, and was subsequently acquired by Showtime Documentary Films. The documentary centers on how O'Connor's 1992 live tearing of a photo of the Pope on Saturday Night Live, which she described as a protest against child abuse, upended her career; O'Connor had won the Grammy for Best Alternative Music Performance in 1991 but didn't attend the ceremony. The film received over thirty international award nominations, winning both Best Documentary and Best Debut Director (Documentary) at the 2022 British Independent Film Awards, Best Documentary Feature at the 2023 Irish Film Television Awards, and a Cinema Eye Honors "Unforgettables" award in 2023. Who it's for: anyone curious about a heavily awarded documentary tracing the real events that shaped a singer's music and career. Who it's not for: viewers wanting a neutral, distanced music documentary, since the film gives close weight to its subject's own voice and perspective.