Billie

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1:59

Billie

2020

1h 36m

Documentary

Music

Biography

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

97%

Tomatometer

36 Reviews

77%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

In 1971, journalist Linda Lipnack Kuehl set out to write the definitive biography of Billie Holiday. Over 8 years, she tracked down and tape-recorded over 200 hours of interviews with the extraordinary characters that populated the iconic singer's short, tumultuous life. However, Linda's book was never finished and the tapes never heard -- until now.

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Critics Consensus

A rich and engaging portrait of the famed musician, Billie puts a spotlight on a story that goes beyond the conventional artist profile.

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Christina Newland

iNews.co.uk

09/23/2024

5/5

A bon vivant, a troubled woman, and many things besides, the film does not work to overly pathologise her, but presents all her many pieces to the audience.

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Lidija Haas

The New Republic

03/02/2021

The thrill of the documentary is in hearing the voices of key players in Holiday's story and their competing versions of events.

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Noel Murray

Los Angeles Times

12/04/2020

"Billie" isn't just about the stories we tell about great artists. It's also about why we tell them - and whether we can ever really get them right.

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Victoria Luxford

City AM

02/26/2022

4/5

As much as the film is a testament to Holidays life, it is also a tribute to the passion one writer had in getting to know the real Lady.

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Milana Vujkov

Lola On Film

07/31/2021

5/5

The brilliance of this duality, the two tales documenting Holiday, of the artist and of the biographer, the telling of the singularity that was Billie through [a] mirror.

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Jordan Bassett

NME (New Musical Express)

04/22/2021

4/5

This loving portrait sheds little new light on the star, but is compelling nonetheless...

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dave d

@RT34924333 03/27/2021

Hubby and Wife date afternoon brings us, 'Billie', a documentary about Billie Holiday. The feature is based around interviews recorded on audio cassettes through the 1970s by Linda Lipnack Kuehl, researching a book on Holiday that was never completed. Those never heard before stories give us a thorough portrait of Holiday. Your mileage will vary based on how much audio you can take, but it's put together in a way that makes this a visually satisfying experience. The film tries to intertwine the story of the journalist and that doesn't always work. It's fairly sloppy to insinuate a murder took place without the least shred of proof. Final Score: Hubby 7.5 Wife: 5.7 Average: 6.6/10

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02/28/2021

The greatest retelling of Billie Holiday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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len s

@landmark91101 01/05/2021

Great if you're a fan of Billie Holliday. Nice footage and interviews with her contemporaries.

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Danny E

12/11/2020

Amazingly well put together documentary. I have always loved Billie Holiday. Despite her dying decades before I was born, she speaks to me. And, this documentary told so much more of her story.

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James Erskine

Director

James Erskine

Writer

Will Clarke

Executive Producer

Sophia Dilley

Executive Producer

Andy Mayson

Executive Producer

Mike Runagall

Executive Producer

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Billie: Trailer 1

1:59

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Synopsis

In 1971, journalist Linda Lipnack Kuehl set out to write the definitive biography of Billie Holiday. Over 8 years, she tracked down and tape-recorded over 200 hours of interviews with the extraordinary characters that populated the iconic singer's short, tumultuous life. However, Linda's book was never finished and the tapes never heard -- until now.

Director: James Erskine
Producer: Barry Clark-Ewers, James Erskine, Victoria Gregory, Laure Vaysse
Screenwriter: James Erskine
Distributor: Greenwich Entertainment
Production Co: New Black Films, Altitude Film Entertainment, Polygram Entertainment, Concord Films, Reliance Entertainment Productions 8
Genre: Documentary, Music, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 4, 2020, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 4, 2020
Runtime: 1h 36m