Amy Winehouse: the Day She Came to Dingle

Whether or not you’re an Amy Winehouse fan, you can’t help but be charmed by the engaged, passionate woman on display in this film, equal parts documentary and concert movie. Whether she’s talking about her diverse musical influences—from Thelonious Monk to the Shangri-Las or her crush on British jazz saxophonist Soweto Kinch—Winehouse sparkles with enthusiasm, particularly when the subject is music. Made for the Irish television show Other Voices, Amy Winehouse: The Day She Came to Dingle is a loving portrait of the iconic singer before she became an international superstar and, more important, before she lost herself to alcohol and drugs. The filmmakers transport us back to the wild, stormy night Winehouse arrived in Dingle, a remote town in Ireland, to perform in a tiny church with seating for 80. Backed by only a guitarist and bass player, Winehouse delivers stripped-down, spine-tingling renditions of her songs, including the hit “Back to Black.” Footage of the gorgeous nature surrounding Dingle and interviews with people who witnessed the once-in-a-lifetime concert are interspersed between the six songs she sang that night. Other Voices presenter John Kelly, who interviewed Winehouse that night, put it beautifully, “When she was here, I felt that she was really happy. She sang the blues away.”