2024-04-23 15:13:57
The film Back to Black, which hits French screens on Wednesday April 24, 2024, traces the life of musician Amy Winehouse. It covers the period from securing his first recording contract, at age 18, to his tragic death from alcohol poisoning in 2011, at the age of 27.
Even before the film’s release, early reactions to clips released as part of its promotion suggested that the film was likely to receive a mixed reception. This was confirmed when the first reviews were published: while some were very positive, others were quite scathing. The comparison of this new production with the previously published stories of Amy Winehouse’s life, as well as the evaluation of its production, the musical performances that can be found there or the script quality have already been, and will continue to be , criticized by others.
As a scientist whose research topic is alcohol and its effects, I will instead focus on how the singer’s addiction to alcohol and other substances was portrayed on screen.
Amy Winehouse died in 2011 from alcohol poisoning. The investigation following his death revealed that his blood alcohol level was 4.16 g per liter. This level of intoxication is potentially fatal: it results in loss of consciousness and failure of vital functions.
The film focuses on the relationship of Amy Winehouse (played by actress Marisa Abela) with Blake Fielder-Civil (Jack O’Connell). The latter’s consumption of substances is initially presented as “in opposition” to that of the singer: he is a “drug addict”, she is a “drinker”. However, their behaviors end up being a reflection of each other. During a scene in which Amy Winehouse visits him in prison, Blake Fielder-Civil uses the phrase “toxic codependency.”
More striking than codependency, however, is the lack of autonomy from which Amy Winehouse seems to suffer, despite her talent and success. In her interactions with Fielder-Civil and her father (played by Eddie Marsan), she is almost deferential. His manager and his label have authority over his career. But probably the most shocking thing is how she cannot lead a “normal” life, due to the constant interference of the paparazzi.
The trailer for Back to Black.
Portrayal of Winehouse’s addiction
Alcohol is present in the film from the first scene, a family party which introduces us to the close relationship that Amy Winehouse maintains with her grandmother, Cynthia (Lesley Manville. On this occasion, the director distils clues to the viewers’ intention regarding Amy Winehouse’s problematic relationship with alcohol, before it is openly addressed later in the plot.
We see her drinking vodka in a pub with her future manager, or even drinking a “Rickstasy” cocktail (Southern Comfort, vodka, Bailey’s and banana liqueur) alone, the day she met Blake Fielder-Civil for the first time. times. In one scene, she explains to her grandmother that she “had a few drinks” to give herself courage before appearing on a television show hosted by presenter Jonathan Ross.
Actresses Marisa Abela and Lesley Manville, who play Amy Winehouse and her grandmother respectively. Landmark Media/Alamy Stock Photo
The mental health problems from which the singer suffered are, however, less explicitly stated. However, it is well documented that Amy Winehouse suffered from depression and bulimia. However, there is a strong link between problematic substance use and psychological disorders, the two often coexisting.
The choice not to focus on Amy Winehouse’s mental health issues is understandable, as director Sam Taylor-Johnson said she wanted the film to “joyfully honor” the singer. But the result is that his relationship with alcohol and other substances lacks nuance on screen.
The complexities of addiction
Numerous studies have demonstrated the existence of links between substance use and a number of situations, such as social stress, parental conflicts, interpersonal trauma or complicated grief (mourning deviating from normality, resulting in suffering increased in intensity and duration, editor’s note).
While watching the film, the viewer is repeatedly reminded of what Amy Winehouse lost or was never able to have (the marriage of her parents, Blake Fielder-Civil, her grandmother, a baby, etc.). And this is a way of validating the notion of “drinking to cope” or the use of alcohol as self-medication.
Marisa Abela and Jack O’Connell in Back to Black.
Landmark Media/Alamy Stock Photo
If this notion of self-medication can be intuitively understood, its representations on screen should not be too simplistic. Indeed, when we look at the scientific research concerning post-traumatic stress disorder and alcohol use disorder, we realize that solid evidence is still lacking to support this model. Furthermore, the relationships between alcohol consumption and mental health are two-way, with the existence of mental health disorders potentially leading to alcohol consumption and alcohol consumption potentially leading to mental health disorders.
Towards the end of the film, Amy Winehouse makes a request to enter rehab. This demand occurs in an accelerated manner, in line with the psychological theory of the “stages of change” of behavior. This postulates that individuals go through six stages during a change: precontemplation, preparation or determination, action, maintenance, cessation. On screen, detoxification is rarely shown. Although they are later given some insight into the chronic and recurring nature of alcohol addiction, viewers must rely on their own imaginations to fill in the gaps.
In the end, overall, although Back to Black succeeds in avoiding falling into harmful and stigmatizing depictions of addiction and mental health issues, it fails to give viewers a realistic insight into the complexities of addiction.
If you wish to analyze your own relationship with alcohol, you can evaluate your consumption and discuss it with your doctor._
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