BLACKPINK：照亮天空

Formed in 2016, the South Korean group has become a global sensation, and the documentary, directed by Caroline Suh, essentially builds toward their triumphant performance at Coachella in 2019.

In introducing the four members individually and collectively, the project also offers a humanizing glimpse at the tradeoffs made to achieve this success, coming up through the ranks of YG Entertainment, which churns out acts while screening candidates for the elusive qualities associated with stardom.

While the stars of Blackpink -- Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa -- express the requisite enthusiasm for performing, the film really distinguishes itself when the women let their guard down a bit, going beyond the platitudes. There's an element of wistfulness, for example, when discussing not growing up with their families, missed experiences, or feeling alive while on stage and a degree of emptiness in the quiet that follows.

The members also acknowledge the pressure and expectations they currently face ("How do we live up to this hype?" their producer asks) and the potentially fleeting nature of fame, including the prospect of being shunted aside for some new act when they're older.

For Netflix, aligning itself with popular music acts is clearly a no-brainer -- witness its Taylor Swift documentary "Miss Americana" earlier this year -- and a way to broaden its demographic appeal.

Nevertheless, given that this kind of documentary is as much a marketing tool as anything else -- both for the streaming service and the group's new album -- the challenge is to make it more than just an infomercial. Seen that way, "Blackpink: Light Up the Sky" manages to offer a welcome reminder that even for K-pop's reigning queens, all that glitters isn't always gold.