Billie (2020)

She sang the truth, she paid the price

Billie (2020) poster

‘Lady Day’ was one of the greatest jazz vocalists the world ever heard. In 1971, journalist Linda Lipnack Kuehl set out to write the definitive biography of Billie Holiday. Before her mysterious death in 1978, Lipnack Kuehl had taped over 200 hours of interviews. The tapes have never been heard. Now they form the basis of an atmospheric, multi-layered documentary that captures the many complex facets of a proud black woman, violent drug addict, loyal friend, vindictive lover and unforgettable singer of ‘God Bless The Child’, ‘Saddest Tale’ and the haunting ‘Strange Fruit’.

Director: James Erskine
Genre: Documentary, Music
Runtime: 96 min
Release Date:

Cast

Screenplay

Cinematography: Tim Cragg
Editing: Avdhesh Mohla
Production: Altitude Film Entertainment
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English
Original Language: en

Themes

Musician Biographies

Keywords

jazz singer or musician, biography, singer, female singers

Trailer

Billie Trailer
More Films by Director: James Erskine
More Films in Genre: Documentary, Music

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Billie about?
‘Lady Day’ was one of the greatest jazz vocalists the world ever heard. In 1971, journalist Linda Lipnack Kuehl set out to write the definitive biography of Billie Holiday. Before her mysterious death in 1978, Lipnack Kuehl had taped over 200 hours of interviews. The tapes have never been heard. Now they form the basis of an atmospheric, multi-layered documentary that captures the many complex facets of a proud black woman, violent drug addict, loyal friend, vindictive lover and unforgettable singer of ‘God Bless The Child’, ‘Saddest Tale’ and the haunting ‘Strange Fruit’.
Who directed Billie?
Billie was directed by James Erskine.
Who stars in Billie?
Billie stars Billie Holiday, Tony Bennett, Count Basie, Charles Mingus.
How long is Billie?
Billie has a runtime of 1h 36m (96 minutes).
What genre is Billie?
Billie is a Documentary, Music film.
Where was Billie produced?
Billie was produced in United Kingdom.
What are the themes of Billie?
The themes of Billie include: Musician Biographies.