Ayala Malls Cinemas continues to raise the bar when it comes to film content by making art and music of various genres more accessible to all with this month’s “Back to Black,” a biopic celebrating the life and music of the talented Amy Winehouse, a great artist whose untimely passing at the age of 27 broke the hearts of millions of fans around the world. Film enthusiasts and music lovers hoping to watch the biopic about the late singer, whose most famous hits include “Rehab,” “You Know I’m No Good” and “Back to Black,” can catch the movie exclusively in Ayala Malls Cinemas starting on May 15.

“Back to Black” is a deeply soulful and astonishingly powerful look at one of the 21st century’s biggest talents, and attempts to understand how personal demons tore Amy Winehouse (played by Marisa Abela) apart. With a script based on first-person material, we see the rise of Amy Winehouse from her suburban upbringing to global superstardom, before her death, leaving the world with an indelible legacy.

“Back to Black” the album won 5 Grammys and sold over 16 million copies, and is the framework for the film. “I wanted to make a film from Amy’s perspective, through her eyes,” says director Sam Taylor-Johnson, whose previous works include “NoWhere Boy,” about another late genius artist, John Lennon. “The only place where her truth could be found was in her lyrics and music. I decided to tell her story through her own words, from the songs that she wrote, the songs where she poured out her soul. She sung of her love, her pain, her disappointment, all infused with deep emotion and often savagely sharp humor.”

The team also worked with the cooperation of the holders of the music rights, Universal Music, and Sony, and it was also important for them to be respectful of family and friends. “Sam made it clear from the beginning she would only come on board if she could tell Amy’s story as truthfully as she could, from Amy’s own writings and lyrics. Sam did not want to be beholden to anyone for any approvals – she needed complete creative freedom,” says producer Alison Owen, who spearheaded the project with the goal that Winehouse be remembered for being one of the most inspiring artists of the 21st century, instead of for the controversies and her early death.

At the same time, Taylor-Johnson and Owen wanted to be courteous and understanding of those who knew Winehouse, like her bandmates and friends and family, so they made sure that communication was always in flow. “We didn’t want to follow any one person’s version,” continues Owen, “but Sam and I spent time with Janis [Winehouse’s mom] and were inspired and moved by that conversation. We talked with other family members and friends and several of them visited the set – Janis in particular was very moved and said it was like spending the day with Amy again. We were all in tears that day.”

Marisa Abela, who plays Amy Winehouse, has been lauded by critics for her performance. Variety attributes the power of the film to “Abela, whose lead performance nails Amy Winehouse in every look, mood, utterance, and musical expression.”

In their review, The Guardian wrote that “Abela conveys [Winehouse’s] tenderness, and perhaps most poignantly of all her youth, so tellingly at odds with that tough image and eerily mature voice.”

Enjoy quality time at the movies at Ayala Malls Cinemas

Critically acclaimed movies are made accessible by Ayala Malls Cinemas. Aside from a plethora of quality content, moviegoers are treated to better images, surround sound features and game-changing technology. Ayala Malls Cinemas fully immerse cinema patrons in movies and guarantees a cinematic experience like no other.

And what’s a movie-watching experience without snacks? From different-flavored popcorn to hotdog sandwiches to yummy burgers, The Movie Snackbar offers a variety of movie-perfect convenient-to-eat snacks, as well as refreshing beverages.

Ayala Malls Zing Plus members can get extra perks as they can earn double Zing points when they use their Zing-linked credit card or GCash to purchase movie tickets at the Ayala Malls Cinema ticket booth or at www.sureseats.com with a minimum spend of P600. Promo runs until June 30, 2024.

Watch “Back to Black” starting May 15 only at Ayala Malls Cinemas. Keep updated with all of the latest cinema experiences from Ayala Malls Cinemas by following the official Ayala Malls Cinemas FB and IG pages.