What is it about Amy?

The strong personality and character along with the fragility of Amy strikes early on in the film 'Back to Black'.

As a fan of the songs without knowing very much else the film for me was going to fill gaps and put a perspective on her life.

I was surprised to feel teary when the film concluded and I stayed a good few minutes in my seat wondering why I felt touched by what I had viewed.

For me, it is a story of deep sorrow, deep longing and a void. The void is never filled but the sense of relationship with her Grandmother is the closest she has to a best friend and a mentor.

Amy herself is portrayed in the film as a woman who wants more - drink, relationship intensity and fun. On an outing to the zoo we sense the amusement she is experiencing, there is a child like quality to her mixed with a no nonsense 'I can handle myself' mode. She stands up to whoever she suspects does not have her best interests. She likes to articulate that she is 'no spice girl'.

It becomes apparent to her that she has met who she considers to be the love of her life and that it is painful that he does not return the emotional depth. It seems that he (Blake) has some time out in prison and pins down the problem as being 'them' that they have a toxic relationship - we can feel the utter devastation from Amy who has invested so much into 'them'.

As Amy's music screams 'real life' she has nowhere to have an objective space to reflect as her life seems all tied in. There are scenes of assault and misbehaving but on the whole I felt the brutal reality may have been watered down for the sake of respect and dignity and also to put more focus on the actual music - when the vocals start we can see and hear without any doubt that she has an immense talent and that she belongs on stage.

I love that the scenes with songs were for the most part in a smaller more intimate venue where her skills for marrying her music and audience flourish. She seeks contact and even plays games with the paps.

Longing for a child with her husband we can only imagine that she would like to replicate the closeness she had with her grandmother and emulate the 'magic' that inspires her: the box. She borrows a box from her Grandmother with old photos and this seems to offer her much comfort.

Towards the end I felt the scenes capture the elegance and lost potential - before her she has a career to continue and a lovely apartment but as she walks upstairs looking well dressed, petite and also very vulnerable, we know very soon it will be over.

So the gaps of my knowledge are less however the film should not of course be taken as gospel - sadly she has left us a gift, her music which will live on.

photo credit - wix