By John Corrado

★★★ (out of 4)

After premiering at Hot Docs, and becoming a runner-up for the Audience Award, Mavis! opens at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema this weekend, tickets and showtimes can be found right here.

A legendary gospel and soul singer, and iconic civil rights activist in the time of Martin Luther King Jr., Mavis Staples has a lot of fascinating history behind her, from singing with her family in the Staple Singers, to the inspiring energy that she still brings to every concert and performance.

Mavis Staples makes for a fine subject in the aptly titled Mavis!, appearing as energetic and openhearted as ever in front of the camera.  Although the film itself follows the pretty typical bio doc formula, director Jessica Edwards has assembled a rousing and entertaining celebration of her inspiring life and music, filled with great stories and some wonderful performance footage.