Back to Black: what is the difference between the film and the famous documentary Amy?

After Bohemian Rhapsody dedicated to Freddie Mercury, Rocketman, the biopic on Elton John, Elvis with Austin Butler in the title role, I Wanna Dance with Somebody which followed the journey of Whitney Houston and Bob Marley: One love, released on February 14 here is Back to Black, a biopic dedicated to the British singer Amy Winehouse, who tragically died on July 23, 2011, at the age of 27.

Directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson (Nowhere Boy, Fifty Shades of Grey) and written by Matt Greenhalgh, Back To Black traces the life of the singer of “Rehab” through the creation of one of the most iconic albums of our time, inspired by his passionate and tormented love story with Blake Fielder-Civil, played on screen by Jack O’Connell.

Intensive preparation

The young actress Marisa Abela, known for her roles as Yasmin Kara-Hanani in the series Industry and Ellie in the series Cobra, lends her features to the singer awarded 6 Grammy Awards. And for the purposes of the film, the latter took singing lessons for 4 months (she is the one who sings in the film), lost weight and spent 2 and a half hours on makeup every day.

Intensive preparation for which Marisa Abela had prepared herself psychologically. While promoting the film, the British actress told us that she took two weeks to think about it before agreeing to participate in the auditions.

“I took this time because I wanted to read the script first to understand the story we were going to tell. Then I wanted to do more research on Amy to see if I could bring anything to the table, there were things I understood about her that I could channel into a way that made my story meaningful. Once I found those connections and that feeling that kept growing within me, I began. to understand it and I agreed to audition.“

A film shot from the point of view of Amy Winehouse

From her beginnings in secret jazz venues to her heyday, the film traces the life of Amy Winehouse from the singer’s point of view. The director Sam Taylor-Johnson explains in the press kit: “I wanted to make a film from Amy’s point of view – through her eyes. It’s only in the text and melodies of her songs that you can truly perceive her true personality.

Dean Rogers

I chose to tell her story in her own words, based on the songs she wrote – songs where she bared her soul. In her songs, she spoke of her loves, her suffering, her disappointments, always with deep emotion and, most often, with fierce humor.

“Back to Black” won 5 Grammys and sold 16 million copies and this song gives my film its emotional context. With each breakup, Amy’s heart beats harder and each of her songs expresses a passionate outpouring of her feelings for Blake, the great love of her life.

This film is a declaration of love to Amy.

This film is a love story, but it is also a declaration of love to Amy, and it is told in the first person, with her words and her gaze. Amy only sees the good in others, because love is blind.”

Back to Black therefore differs from the documentary Amy by Asif Kapadia, awarded the Oscar for best documentary film in 2016.

Remember the artist rather than his tragic end

The filmmaker had attended one of the very first concerts ofAmy Winehouse in a confidential jazz club in 2004. The latter admitted to us that she had agreed to direct the feature film in order to pay tribute to the singer.

Dean Rogers / STUDIOCANAL GmbH

During our meeting Sam Taylor-Johnson told us: “Before making this film, like everyone else, I had a feeling of sadness thinking about Amy, because dying so young is a tragedy. But I didn’t want that to be what the public remembers about her. I had the impression that his music had been a little lost and that the public mainly remembered his tragic destiny. But I have the impression that by seeing this film which shows his point of view, we want to listen to his music. And I felt like this was the best way to celebrate her again and uplift her.”

An opinion shared by the producer behind the project, Alison Owen, who adds : “I had the feeling that she was one of those women who are remembered more for their premature death than for their talent. We too often forget that these women, who died too early, were immense artists. I didn’t want to not that this is the case with Amy: she should be remembered as one of the most exciting artists of the 21st century.”

Dean Rogers

What did Amy Winehouse’s family think of the film?

A private screening of Back to Black was organized for the singer’s family which the director preferred not to attend out of modesty. Sam Taylor-Johnson tells us: “The family saw the film and I wasn’t there. I could not. I thought it was too emotional and it was a private space. I met them out of respect. I didn’t need the family’s approval, but I wanted to meet them and have the opportunity to listen to their stories and be with them to make the film.

I think when they saw the film it was an incredibly emotionally intense experience. I know they liked the movie, but I think it’s hard to understand what they must have felt.”

Back to Black can be seen at the cinema this Wednesday, April 24.