Watch Marisa Abela Embody Amy Winehouse in ‘Back to Black’ Trailer

Emily Zemler
·3 min read
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Marisa Abela as Amy Winehouse in 'Back to Black' - Credit: Focus Features
Marisa Abela as Amy Winehouse in 'Back to Black' - Credit: Focus Features

Studio Canal has dropped the first international teaser trailer for its forthcoming Amy Winehouse biopic Back to Black. The clip showcases Industry actress Marisa Abela as Winehouse, who intones, “I want to be remembered for just being me.”

The trailer also offers glimpses of Jack O’Connell as Winehouse’s husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, and Lesley Manville, who plays Winehouse’s grandmother, Cynthia Winehouse. It’s soundtracked by Winehouse’s 2006 song “Back to Black.”

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The film’s official synopsis describes it as “A celebration of the most iconic – and much missed – homegrown star of the 21st century.” It adds, “Painting a vivid, vibrant picture of the Camden streets she called home and capturing the struggles of global fame, Back to Black honors Amy’s artistry, wit, and honesty, as well as trying to understand her demons. An unflinching look at the modern celebrity machine and a powerful tribute to a once-in-a-generation talent.”

Back to Black was directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson from a screenplay written by Matt Greenhalgh. It also stars Eddie Marsan as Winehouse’s father, Mitch Winehouse, and Juliet Cowan as Winehouse’s mother, Janis Winehouse-Collins. It was made with support from the Amy Winehouse Estate, Universal Music Group, and Sony Music Publishing.

Winehouse, who died in 2011 following years of drug and alcohol problems, has previously been the subject of several documentaries. In 2015, Amy won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature. Taylor-Johnson previously said she has felt a longtime relationship to the story.

“My connection to Amy began when I left college and was hanging out in the creatively diverse London borough of Camden,” Taylor-Johnson said in a statement last year. “I got a job at the legendary KOKO club, and I can still breathe every market stall, vintage shop, and street… A few years later Amy wrote her searingly honest songs whilst living in Camden. Like with me, it became part of her DNA. I first saw her perform at a talent show at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in Soho and it was immediately obvious she wasn’t just ’talent’… she was genius.”

She added: “As a filmmaker you can’t really ask for more. I feel excited and humbled to have this opportunity to realise Amy’s beautifully unique and tragic story to cinema accompanied by the most important part of her legacy – her music. I am fully aware of the responsibility, with my writing collaborator – Matt Greenhalgh – I will create a movie that we will all love and cherish forever. Just like we do Amy.”

When the film was first announced in 2018, it was reported that proceeds from the biopic would benefit the Amy Winehouse Foundation. Winehouse’s father, Mitch Winehouse, shared a statement at the time confirming her family and estate’s support. “We now feel able to celebrate Amy’s extraordinary life and talent,” he said. “And we know through the Amy Winehouse Foundation that the true story of her illness can help so many others who might be experiencing similar issues.”

Back to Black will be released in the U.S. in theaters on May 10 via Focus Features.

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