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

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.

Rated: 5/5

Sep 23, 2024

Full Review

Lidija Haas

The New Republic

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

Mar 2, 2021

Full Review

Noel Murray

Los Angeles Times

"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.

Dec 4, 2020

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Victoria Luxford

City AM

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.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 26, 2022

Full Review

Milana Vujkov

Lola On Film

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.

Rated: 5/5

Jul 31, 2021

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Jordan Bassett

NME (New Musical Express)

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

Rated: 4/5

Apr 22, 2021

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dave d

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

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

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

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

len s

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

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Danny E

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.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/12/20

Full Review

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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

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