Amy Winehouse biopic makers defend ‘honest’ documentary in Cannes

Makers of a biopic about Amy Winehouse, which has been criticised by the late singer’s family, have defended their work at its screening in Cannes. Amy, directed by Asif Kapadia, was given a midnight screening at the prestigious festival, to a generally good reception. The documentary shows the singer from an early age through to her death in 2011 from alcohol poisoning at the age of 27. It uses interviews from some 80 of Winehouse’s friends, family and collaborators – layering their words over footage of the musician.

I don’t think I’m going to be at all famous. I don’t think I could handle it.

Amy Winehouse, speaking in the documentary

The Winehouse family claims the documentary contains allegations against them and the singer’s management that are “unfounded and unbalanced”.  Mitch Winehouse, Amy’s father, said he wanted to dissociate himself from the film. Kapadia – the acclaimed director of Senna, about the Brazilian Formula 1 driver – said it wasn’t the intention to upset anyone. “There’s a lot of turmoil, there’s a lot of stuff going on in her life and that’s why things turned out the way they did,“ he said.

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