Ron Sexsmith gets personal in the documentary Love Shines. (Handout)

Ron Sexsmith always has been one of Canada’s most underrated songwriters. Obviously that’s a compliment, but it’s understandable that being described as underrated can get frustrating as the years pass.

Sexsmith’s creative process and quest for more commercial success without abandoning his ideals is on full display in the 2010 documentary Love Shines, which airs across Canada on Saturday, May 14 on HBO Canada.

Working with legendary producer Bob Rock, Sexsmith allows an intimate glance into his delicate studio process. Through a series of flashbacks, including rare footage chronicling his early years as a performer, Sexsmith confronts the meaning of success, weighing artistic achievement against the dream of wider stardom.

If you want to make it a full Canadian music night, just prior to Love Shines, HBO Canada will air the 2010 Feist concert film Look At What The Light Did Now.