By Eliza Berman
Audiences at the Cannes Film Festival this week are buzzing about the emotional impact of Asif Kapadia’s documentary Amy, which explores the life of the late singer Amy Winehouse, who died of alcohol poisoning in 2011 at 27. The documentary uses archival footage and interviews to mine the complicated inner life of a person who wanted neither fame nor notoriety but only to make music.
The trailer depicts Winehouse as a bright, genuine and supremely gifted performer who shied away from the publicity her talent afforded her. Though Oscar season is still months away, some critics have already opined that Amy will be one to beat in the documentary category. The film hits theaters Jul. 3.
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Write to Eliza Berman at eliza.berman@time.com