The marquee lights of the Bama Theatre lit up downtown last night, as the second film of the Bama Art House series played to a large crowd. “Amy,” a documentary of the life of singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse, was screened in a one-night only event. The film depicts the musician’s triumphs and tragedies, conveying the spirit and personality of a prodigious talent.
The film presents Winehouse’s story using only footage of her life. This includes video of performances and television appearances, but also many home movies of Winehouse, from her childhood and adulthood. There’s no narrator or guide presenting information in “Amy” or providing overarching commentary — only the words of Winehouse and her friends, family, and colleagues are used to create the intimate narrative.
Unlike many documentarians who thrust their take on the subject to the foreground, Asif Kapadia, who helmed “Amy,” stays behind the camera, presenting things as objectively as possible. Directors like Micheal Moore and Werner Herzog are typically involved onscreen, giving their opinions about the subjects of their films. By using only the perspectives of Winehouse and those who knew her closely, Kapadia creates a singular portrait of an artist.
The movie focuses much of its attention on Winehouse’s struggles: her troubled childhood, her dysfunctional marriage, and her drug and alcohol addiction. However, “Amy” shows the joyous parts of her life as well; her successes, her love of performing, and her creative spirit. “Amy” paints a portrait of the talented and visionary artist Winehouse was. From a young age, Winehouse was writing and performing compelling, mature music with lyrics that ranged from cheeky and clever to deeply emotional.
Winehouse fans will no doubt adore the film and the perspective it gives on the artist’s work. Juxtaposing the songwriter’s lyrics with the events in her life that inspired them, “Amy” gives new insight on the emotion and inspiration behind some of Winehouse’s tracks. The writing process behind “Rehab,” Winehouse’s most well known song, is depicted in the film, which reveals how much of Winehouse’s life experience was recorded in that song.
Though “Amy” ran as a one-night-only event at the Bama Theatre, the movie serves as an illustration of how important Tuscaloosa’s alternative cinema is to the community. Next week’s film “Love and Mercy” is another musical biopic, this one being about Beach Boys’ front man, Brian Wilson, and his struggle with mental illness.
At a mainstream multiplex, you never know what you’re going to get. A movie could be good or bad, and there’s no way to really tell until you’ve already bought your ticket. But the Bama Art House series is a slate of films curated to challenge, entertain, and enrich the viewer, and because of this, it’s an indispensable part of Tuscaloosa’s culture.
