Amy Winehouse wanted to sing and write music that really spoke from her heart. She had a raw and beautiful talent that was obvious to those around her. She was not ready for the feeding frenzy the all too often comes with fame, but if you listen closely all the revaluations that this documentary illuminates are already laid out for you in her music.
The director Asif Kapadia did a really amazing job of telling the story behind the star. He left nothing out: the dramatic rise to super stardom, the drugs, the eating disorder, the harsh reality of fame; but the way he did it left you with a clear picture of this talented musician. He didn't portray her as the victim, nor demonize her in any way but rather focuses the attention on her unique talents and style, showing you who this woman really was, and I feel, an honest look at her story.
It was clear from the start that this lady could sing, and that she had a real true talent. She decided that because the songs available weren't to her liking, she thought she'd have a go at it. Everyone fell in love with her and her music. As her star began to rise, and the money began to quickly roll in, there wasn't very much guidance from people that she trusted. Her father, who had once abandoned her family when she was about 9, quickly came back when she became rich and famous. As most people will remember from her famous single: it had become clear that rehab was needed, but when her father said she didn't need it, and she simply didn't go. That was before she became a super star, and before Blake, it could have made a real change, but it wasn't to be. The film shows all the parts the media relentlessly covered, the sad drama of someone becoming unhinged, addicted to drugs, addicted to a man who was using her; but also how hard it is when everyone wants a piece of you and you are just struggling to find peace. Instead of focusing on all the sadness, the documentary tells the story of the artist with her music.
I highly recommend this movie. I was a little unsure about it, although the trailer really drew me in; because I knew that in the end the person you are routing for tragically dies. However, the film is beautifully done, and I believe that if Amy where alive, she would have approved of her story being told in this way.
