BILLIE
A lot has been written about the fame and tremendous importance of Billie Holiday in the history of music. To this day, however, an abundance of questions remain about her turbulent and tragic life.This precious documentary tries to find answers to these questions through countless hours of recorded interviews with close friends and great collaborators (such as Count Basie and Tony Bennett), which are seen here for the first time, through confessions by Lady Day herself and through a magnificent archive bound to cause chills, capturing something of the grandeur of her exceptional performances.
UK | 2019 | COLOR & B&W | DCP | 96’ | ENGLISH
It is only natural that a lot has been written about the imperial position and the monumental importance of Billie Holiday in music history. But there are still plenty of questions about her tumultuous and tragic life, her abused childhood and her untimely death at 44.
A precious documentary attempts to provide some answers, drawing from countless hours of recorded interviews with close friends, relatives and important collaborators of hers (such as Count Basie and Tony Bennett), which date back to the ‘70s but come to light for the first time, from rare confessions of Lady Day herself and the exquisite archive material that makes you shiver with excitement, capturing a precious fragment of her performing majesty. L.K.
DIRECTOR: James Erskine
SCREENWRITER: James Erskine
DoP: Tim Cragg
EDITOR: Avdesh Mohla
JAMES ERSKINE
Director, screenwriter and producer of documentaries, with extensive work for television. Nominated for an Emmy Award for his mini-series ‘Human Face’ (2001).
FILMOGRAPHY
2019 Billie
2018 The Ice King
2017 Sachin – A Billion Dreams
2016 Le Mans: 3D
2015 Building Jerusalem
2014 Pantani: The Accidental Death of a Cyclist
2013 The Battle of the Sexes
2011 From the Ashes
2010 One Night in Turin
