Having watched the documentary Amy some time ago, which tells the life of Amy Winehouse in a captivating way, I was eager to watch the biopic “Back to Black” when it was released. However, my enthusiasm quickly turned into disappointment, as I found the film dull and boring for a woman whose life was anything but boring.

A major flaw of the film is its inability to provide a clear timeline. Dates are missing, making it difficult to follow Amy's journey. The depiction of Amy's love life is also disorganized. We see her meeting Blake, their budding romance, a romantic day at the zoo, and then their sudden separation. The film gives the impression that their relationship lasted only a few moments, whereas in reality, they were together for a significant period, with a deeply passionate and tumultuous relationship.

For those who don't know the true story of Amy Winehouse, the film presents, in my opinion, a misleading narrative. It simplifies her struggles, portraying her as a lonely depressive who fell into drugs, without giving the context. This contrasts strongly with reality, where her boyfriend Blake played a big role in introducing her to hard drugs, and the fact that her father failed to protect her from the pressures of fame. The biopic barely touches on the crucial issue of hard drugs, which were at the heart of her tragic downfall.

Although the actors' performances are commendable and some scenes, like her last concert, are well done, the film as a whole fails to capture the essence of Amy Winehouse's life. It glosses over critical aspects and offers an incomplete and sanitized version of her reality. For a figure as complex and vibrant as Amy, this biopic does her a great disservice.

Ines Roquet