The trailer for the documentary film Amy, based off of the life and career of singer Amy Winehouse, came out last week in anticipation of the full feature’s release on July 3rd. The trailer gives the audience a peek into the themes of the documentary, which chronicles the singer’s childhood, the blossoming of her talents, and her battles with fame. Also at the center of the story is her tumultuous relationship with Blake Fielder-Civil, whom she was married to for three years.
The film is directed by Asif Kapadia and produced by James Gay-Rees, who also teamed together for the award-winning documentary Senna, the life story of the famous Brazilian motor-racing champion who, like Winehouse, died at the peak of his fame. As Consequence of Sound reported, the documentary premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, and immediately received tremendously positive reviews. However, the Winehouse family has been critical of the film’s story, saying that it “contains basic untruths … The narrative is formed by the testimony of a narrow sample of Amy’s associates, many of whom had nothing to do with her in the last years of her life.” In spite of the controversy, the film has generated a lot of publicity and will most likely be considered the definitive documentary on the singer’s life.
Many know Winehouse for her record-setting 2006 album Back to Black, a soul-heavy tour-de-force hailed for its grittiness, but also its ability to connect with a wide international audience. Some remember her more for her substance abuse problems, which were often fodder for the tabloids, and which eventually lead to the singer’s early death. Some may just recognize her unique look, which included a 1960s style beehive hairdo, and an assortment of tattoos. Kapadia’s documentary tells the full story of all these sides of Winehouse, while providing a look into her younger years to give context to her story.
Check out the trailer for the film below. It gives a good look into what the film will focus on, and the tone it will take with venerating the deceased singer. It is set to be released in theaters nationwide on July 3rd.
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