Michael Jackson is only five years old when he makes his stage debut with the family band The Jackson 5, coached hard by his father Joe.
His first solo album, "Off the Wall," came out in 1979. By then, the boyish, 20-year-old was already a veteran in the industry, and during the 80s he established himself as the biggest pop star of his time with the iconic album "Thriller."
In the early 1990s, he was accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old boy. The abuse allegations haunted him for the rest of his life - and grew in scope after his death.
"Michael", the blockbuster film about the pop star in which Jackson's estate acted as producer and co-financier, however, puts an end to it before it becomes uncomfortable.
"Always backed up"
The result is, according to music journalist Tina Mehrafzoon, a "Hollywoodized" story about Michael Jackson’s greatness.
"The Jackson family has always been very concerned about the family as a brand and has always backed Michael. They still do," she says.
“Michael” ends when the pop star, played by his nephew Jaafar Jackson, embarks on a world tour with the album “Bad” (1987). The real-life Michael Jackson brings with him a 10-year-old dancer who later accuses him of sexual assault during the tour.
The ending of the film suggests that the story continues. The question is how.
That will be the family's view of the allegations, Mehrafzoon says.
“Party in the case”
The music journalist, herself a big fan, had preferred a documentary with the ambition to get closer to some kind of truth.
I'm not interested in a version where the producer is a party to the case and has big money to make from this.
The estate considered a counter-documentary after the acclaimed "Leaving Neverland", in which two men accuse Jackson of sexual assault, but the choice ultimately fell on a feature film.
According to estate administrator John Branca, it was to let the audience experience Jackson's story rather than spell it out.
In the Financial Times he is clear about what he demanded of those who worked on the film:
If you don't understand that Michael is innocent, you can't stay here.
Jackson denied all criminal charges and was never convicted, but
that he enjoyed sharing a bed with children, something he considered innocent.The interesting thing will be how we discuss this film and how it affects the next generation's relationship to Michael and his music, says Tina Mehrafzoon.
Will this work?
Born: August 29, 1958, Gary, Indiana, USA
Career: Debuts on stage at the age of five with his brothers in the family band The Jackson 5, which is a huge success during the 60s and 70s. Releases his first album as a solo artist, "Off the Wall", in 1979. The follow-up "Thriller" (1982) becomes his big breakthrough and is still the world's best-selling album of all time.
This was followed by "Bad" (1987), "Dangerous" (1991), "History" (1995) and "Invincible" (2001).
Controversy: Accused in 1993 of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old boy. Further charges and a fruitless police investigation followed. In 2003, Jackson was indicted on multiple counts of child sexual abuse. He went on trial in 2005, but was acquitted on all counts. Over the years, Jackson, and later his estate, are said to have settled with several people who had made allegations against him, paying out millions in compensation in exchange for silence.
Died June 25, 2009, aged 50. Cause of death: cardiac arrest caused by drug poisoning. Jackson's doctor was later convicted of manslaughter.
The pop star's assets have since been controlled by his estate, with his three children, mother and charities as beneficiaries through a trust. The estate is managed by lawyers John Branca and John McClain, who receive a share of the money collected.
