Biopic
Amy Winehouse and her life between soul and addiction
Actress Marisa Abela as Amy Winehouse. photo
© Courtesy of Dean Rogers/Focus Features, LLC./dpa
Amy Winehouse dies of alcohol poisoning at 27. The film “Back to Black” honors her great talent and shows the fight against her demons. It could be the start of a great career for the leading actress.
Beehive hairstyle, pronounced eyeliner and retro clothes from the 1960s: Amy Winehouse was visually out of line when she celebrated worldwide success with her legendary album “Back to Black” in the mid-2000s. The biopic of the same name by British director Sam Taylor-Johnson (“Fifty Shades Of Grey”) shows the (short) career of the eccentric exceptional artist – and how she ultimately collapses due to alcohol and other drugs.
“Let’s be clear: I’m not a Spice Girl.” With this clear announcement, the then teenager, who until then had mainly been singing in small pubs in the London district of Camden, contacted her future manager. It quickly becomes clear: Winehouse (brilliantly played by Marisa Abela) is blessed with a unique talent. However, discipline is not one of her strengths.
She misses an important meeting with her record bosses about her future after the national success of her debut record “Frank”. When the managers suggested that she should stand on stage without a guitar in the future, Winehouse left the meeting – and got drunk in a pub during the day. There she meets the charismatic Blake (Jack O’Connell) and immediately falls in love.
Winehouse writes about toxic relationships
A passionate affair begins, complete with alcohol, hard drugs and fights. Blake flees back to his ex, Winehouse sinks into a hole. During this phase, among other things, the lyrics to “Back to Black” were created. With his second album of the same name, Winehouse achieved his international breakthrough in 2006 – and won Blake’s heart back.
But the relationship between the two remains toxic, the excesses increase, and Winehouse risks her career. In the end she finally agrees to a rehab treatment, which she initially refused several times (“They tried to make me go to rehab. But I said no, no, no.”).
The tragic end of her life is only mentioned in the credits of the two-hour drama: Winehouse is found dead in her apartment in July 2011. She dies of alcohol poisoning after a relapse – at just 27 years old.
Abela brings Amy to life visually and vocally
The tragically short life between genius and madness is impressively staged by Taylor-Johnson and with lots of musical accompaniment. She focuses on the toxic love relationship. “I think it’s important to see that the album that we all love and is one of the greatest albums of our generation is the result of this love story,” explained the filmmaker in the dpa interview.
Lead actress Abela, who so far has mainly been known to fans of the US series “Industry”, plays the role of her life in “Back to Black”. Not only does she look a lot like Winehouse, but she also performs all the songs herself in the film – even though she couldn’t sing before.
“Amy communicated herself to the world through her music. I had the feeling that if I sounded like her, I could convey her needs and desires through her music,” Abela told dpa. She sang the songs with Winehouse’s old band – but the real Amy can be heard on the film’s soundtrack.
The musical performances are definitely one of the highlights of the two-hour film, which you should – if possible – watch in the original. Because there the North London accent and the loose mouth of the up-and-coming Winehouse come into their own better. “She used her language very consciously and with a certain boldness. She either hurt you or let you get close to her,” explained Abela.
In the end, the audience is left with a feeling of sadness that such a highly talented jazz and soul musician lost the battle against her demons far too early.
Trailer for the film (in German) Trailer for the film (in the original)