Critical Contextual Studies for Amy

1. AmyContextual Studies:
In the final 15 minutesof the AmydocumentaryAsif Kapadiausescinematictechniquestobuildup
the emotionsof the final scenesof the film.
Nearthe end of the filmAsif startedtoadd mire tense backingmusictohelpbuildupamore serious
note to the film.Earlierinthe filmone of the intervieweestalksaboutAmy’sbodyandhow well she
had beendoingbutwhenshe wentfora check-upthe doctorssaidthat if she continueddrinking
that she coulddie,she wasthenaskedif she wantedtodie and she repliedthatshe didn’twantto.It
thencuts to whenshe wastouringand hermanagersaidshe didn’thave to doit but she saidshe
wantedto. She thengot toldshe had to go so she starteddrinkingtogetherself takenoff the tour
but she got takenfromherhouse whenshe waspassedoutand woke upat the airportand was
flownawayoma private jet.Nearertothe endof the filmAsif startedto putsome more sad and
seriousmusicoverthe topof the footage,the editorwoulduse longerandlingeringshotsorwould
evenslowdownfootage togive ita longerlastingeffect.The editoralsousespianoand/orviolin
musicof the top tohelpportray the sadnessandto portraythe emotionfelt,inthe endingminutes
of the filmthere isnotalking/monologue,itsjustthe musicinthe backgroundoverthe footage.
The filmhas a fewwordsfromsome of her idolsandclosestfriendstalkingaboutherdeath,from
the voicesof the people youcanreallyhearthe emotionbehindwhatthe people were saying.The
editorandfilm-makerusescinematiceffectstohelpportrayandgive more emotionandhelpthe
vieweremphasize withthe people whowere closesttoAmy.Ithinkthat the mix of the footage after
the funeral andthe musicalongwiththe montage of Amythroughhercareer and seeingher
throughsome of the bestpointsof herlife isveryeffective atcreatingthe emotionandportraying
the empathy.
Duringthe creditsof the filmthe editorhasa smallermontage nexttothe rollingcredits withthe
BBC Live Lounge versionof Valeriewhichatthe time of writinghasover170 millionstreamson
Spotifyalone.Thisversionof the songisverygoodat usingthe viewersemotionsagainstthemas
Live versioncontainsalotmore emotionfromAmyherself asthe live versioncontainsminimal
editingtohelpcontainheremotionbehindthe song,whichthe filmhasbeenbuildingupall this
time talkingaboutthe passionthatAmyhad aroundher musicas all she wantedtodo was justmake
hermusic andshe wasn’tbotheredaboutbeingfamous,she justwantedtomake musicandthisis
evidentfromthe filmandthe interviewsthe Amyhadearlierandlateroninher career.