“Back to Black“ is Amy Winehouse’s second studio album. with songs in which she buries her love for the musician (and husband of two years) Blake Fielder-Civil. The film by British director Sam Taylor-Johnson is about this fatal relationship. It doesn’t aim for anything more. BACK TO BLACK doesn’t psychologize. It avoids the possibility of something disturbing, it can’t get away from “Rehab,“ meaning drugs and depression, but is all the more dedicated to Amy the family person, her tattoos, her grandmother Nancy and father Mitch. He accompanies his daughter's legendary, but also incredibly short, career, until her death in 2011, with the same expression of pride, concern and care. Despite the imperfections: this biopic is well-made – smart and discrete. It's not about divulging (the nastiest thing is her missing tooth, first molar at the top right), it's about paying homage to a soul icon. Or her double? Marisa Abela really gives it her all in the role of Amy and it seems like she can also sing. She looks so similar to Winehouse, not just because of her trademark beehive hair and dark eyeliner. Abela has mastered her cheeky language, the way she mimes lust and sucks her own tongue, the way she poses in a challenging way. So much so that you somehow lose sight of the “Amy/Blake” drama because of the admirable acting.

Elisabeth Bauschmid

Translation: Elinor Lewy