Like the director’s terrific previous documentary Senna, on the life of Formula One legend Ayrton Senna, Amy humanizes a fascinating figure that deserved a more thoughtful study than the headlines provided. This is, in fact, an even stronger film – a carefully observed portrait of an abundantly talented but potentially fragile woman singed by the unforgiving glare of the spotlight.

The hope then is that we will leave the cinema with more than just Rehab, Back To Black or Valerie playing in our heads, but with a few questions about the cult of celebrity that permeates our daily lives at a level higher than ever before. Amy is as much a celebration of the songs we loved as it is a mourning for the songs we could have had.

Director of the acclaimed Formula 1 documentary “Senna,” Kapadia uses Amy’s own words, archival footage, interviews and song tracks to flesh out his frail,bulimia-stricken subject. It breaks the heart to see her swigging straight from the bottle in the middle of a song. The tears are never far when you see pictures of her, in childhood and adulthood, with her friends Juliette Ashby and Lauren Gilbert, friends she retained all her life.

If you’re a fan of Amy Winehouse and want to go beyond the music, Amy is the perfect film to dig deeper into the life of the legend. It will make you uncomfortable and force you to think. This gut-wrenching film is a must-watch for fans across the board.

Amy is not just a study of the tragic life of a talented and misdirected young woman and a record of the Grammy-winning artist and her journey. It is also a thesis on the darker side of celebrity, fame and addiction. As one music professional says, “In our business, nothing can prepare you for that level of success.”