Film Review: Amy (15) (U.K. 2015) (Director: Asif Kapadia), Filmhouse, Screen One, Edinburgh, Thursday 18.06.2015, 20:35 (Edinburgh International Film Festival 2015) (U.K. Premiere)

This documentary was helmed by the man behind 'Senna' (2010), and has a similar presentational style. All footage is archival and the detail is fresh and insightful, giving voice the childhood friends and others who had substantial relations with this bright and brassy musical voice. 

To consider how much this young lady was pushed into the spotlight and how relatively recently this was, the fact that this does not feel tired or rehashed, reflects on what must have been considerable care taken by those piecing this together.

I would pretty much take it as a given that any one going to see this will already be aware of the tragic nature to the ending of this tale and the film is suitably sombre in this regard. There are no great surprises in terms of story arc, the sustenance is in the details. Details such as she did not expect her sort of music to become huge in the way it did and she had a sense that she would not handle that level of fame. Sadly the film also shows that due to a mixture of nievity, ignorance and self-interest, a number of significant people around her could not consider her best interests at times when this is what she really needed.

I still find Amy's classic second and final album, 'Back to Black' (2006), difficult to listen to, knowing the spiral she entered and could not leave. The film has raised again my sense of voyeuristic discomfort at how life turned out for this young lady with such (mishandled) potential. Despite the film drawing me to this heavy area for my thoughts to dwell, I am very glad I saw the film and feel that it is much richer than I had anticipated. For those who found pleasure in her voice, although it is not happy experience, I recommend this film. 

Rating: 10/10.