Amy Winehouse’s family upset over ‘misleading’ documentary
A documentary about tragic Jewish singer Amy Winehouse, which her family has already criticised as “misleading”, has been screened at the Cannes Film Festival.
The star, who died aged 27 from alcohol poisoning in 2011, confesses at one point during the film that she does not think she could handle fame. Amy, directed by Asif Kapadia, was given a midnight screening at the industry get-together in the south of France.
Recorded speaking as a teenager, Winehouse says: “I don’t think I’m going to be at all famous. I don’t think I could handle it.”
Kapadia, who was acclaimed for his documentary Senna, about the Brazilian Formula 1 driver, carried out around 100 interviews with Winehouse’s friends, family members and colleagues for the production.
Their words are heard over footage of Winehouse (pictured) from her early childhood right through to when she achieved global success. At a party ahead of the screening musician Yasiin Bey, formerly known as Mos Def, performed alongside jazz singer Gregory Porter and new artist Cosmina.
Bey said Winehouse was a “dear friend” and “one of the realest” people he had ever met. Amid criticism from the singer’s family the makers of the film have previously said: “The story that the film tells is a reflection of our findings from these interviews.”
The Winehouse family claimed the documentary contains allegations against them and the singer’s management that are “unfounded and unbalanced”. A spokesman said they “would like to disassociate themselves from the forthcoming film about their much missed and beloved Amy”.
He went on: “They feel that the film is a missed opportunity to celebrate her life and talent and that it is both misleading and contains some basic untruths.” The documentary will be released in the UK in July.
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