Movie Talk with Asif Kapadia
id: 3DD-01-0057
format: HD
Kapadia discusses his documentary Amy about the late musician Amy Winehouse. It was the highest grossing doco ever in theatres when released, beating his previous film Senna. He considers it to be a film bigger than just one girl, it's about North London and the media. Kapadia says making a documentary is different than a fiction film as you know the ending so it's more about the journey, the why and how. The documentary consists of fellow artists like Tony Bennett and Pete Doherty as well as Amy's friends. The doco features live performances that show off her incredible talent of not only her singing but also her song writing which is why Kapadia decided to include subtitled lyrics. Kapadia likes to remain impartial and likes to make documentaries that belong in the space between fact and fiction therefore creating more tension, in order for the audience to make up their own minds. Senna is another hugely successful documentary about Formula One driver Ayrton Senna. Kapadia was told there would be no audience in the USA, but he thought they don't know the ending and he was proved right. There was an incredible archive so the movie was already there, it didn't need talking heads. Senna was the hero in an action film whereas Amy was a musical. The next film discussed is The Warrior 2001 starring Irrfan Khan set in the epic landscapes of The Himalayas and Rajasthan. Kapadia reflects on the spiritual themes that link his films. The Warrior clip is shown. The Far North 2007 starring Michelle Yeoh and Sean Bean, set in the Artic near the North Pole in freezing temperatures of -40. Michelle Yeoh was incredible to work with. The Return 2006 is the next film starring Michelle Gellar and Sam Shephard. An interesting studio film according to Kapadia that started off being like an early Christopher Nolan film with a spiritual element. But the film was marketed in a way in which none of them signed up to, it was an 'educational' experience. Kapadia talks about the film Ali and Nino 2016, a documentary set in Azerbaijan, Turkey, Georgia and the Caucasus Mountains. A love story about a warrior of the North set in the First World War based on the book by Kurban Said and adapted screenplay by Christopher Hampton.
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