A truly sad story of an extremely talented woman, Back to Black depicts Amy Winehouse's rise to fame thanks to her unique and emotional music. The biopic is directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson and stars Marisa Abela, Jack O'Connell, and Eddie Marsan.
by Debbie Lydgard, Entertainment Reporter @Debbie_Ridgard
Tuesday 9 April 2024 00:54, United Kingdom
Known for her iconic look and unique talent, Amy Winehouse had achieved unimaginable levels of fame by the time she died from alcohol poisoning in 2011. She was 27 years old.
The London artist, whose songs include 'Rehab' and 'Tears Dry On Their Own', has struggled with addiction and bulimia throughout his music career.
Now, her life and love of music has been turned into a film titled Back to Black, directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson.
The director, who lived in the same neighborhood as the iconic singer, says he wanted to make sure the film belonged to the world wine house's perspective.
She and screenwriter Matt Greenhalgh used the late artist's diary, songs, and writings to create a biopic from her own words.
“This felt, in a way, to be the best way to give her her voice back,” she told Sky News at the world premiere of Back to Black in London.
Marisa Abela plays Amy Winehouse in the biopic. The 27-year-old British actress said she felt Amy's girlfriend's “life had fallen apart so much that it was hard for her to feel anything but tragedy.” .
She says it was important to her, the cast and crew, that the film highlight the talent of London's artists.
“Her legacy is authenticity and a richness of heart. She embodies her emotions and wears them on her sleeve, and not everyone can do that the way she can. ”
The film depicts the singer-songwriter being constantly followed by paparazzi.
This Is England actor Jack O'Connell will play the late singer's ex-husband Blake Fielder-Civil.
He said he wanted to add “depth” to the portrayal of Winehouse's former partner, who was often associated with harsh coverage of Winehouse in the tabloids.
“That was definitely the persona he exuded,” the actor explains.
He says: “When she achieved that level of success, when the paparazzi contributed to it; [her addiction], it's a bad recipe and heartbreaking… it's definitely the antagonist of the movie. ”
Back to Black doesn't shy away from including scenes of a couple falling into addiction, which O'Connell calls “a clear evil that exists throughout.”
Happy Go Lucky actor Eddie Marsan, who plays Mitch Winehouse in the film, said her death was a “collective trauma” for the world, but for her father it was the loss of his daughter.
“This film has the courage to show that the main villain of the piece is addiction,” he told Sky News.
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Marsan added that for celebrities who were struggling with sobriety, like Amy Winehouse, there were certain safeguards that should have been in place at the time.
“There's a reason recovery programs are called Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous, because dealing with addiction requires anonymity and privacy, and Amy couldn't afford that.
“She was stuck in the middle of an addiction, so her family wrote that it was twice as hard and 100 times harder to tell. But they did nine interventions and still couldn't save her.” I couldn't do it.”
Amy Winehouse's music has spread beyond the UK. In 2008, she won five Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Vocal Album.
Back to Black will be released in theaters on Friday, April 12th.
Anyone experiencing mental distress or suicidal thoughts can seek help by calling Samaritans on 116 123 or in the UK by emailing jo@samaritans.org. In the United States, call your local Samaritans branch or call 1 (800) 273-TALK.