Mitch Winehouse slams makers of acclaimed documentary Amy

Updated

Mitch Winehouse has hit out at the makers of the film Amy, describing the documentary as "very hurtful".

Asif Kapadia's film has won rave reviews, but the singer's father said it focused too much on his daughter's battle with drugs and skipped over her "sense of fun".

He said: "We are very disappointed, it missed a trick and it was very hurtful for the family."

He added: "That's what people just don't understand, they saw that film that came out a few months ago - which to me is abhorrent anyway - there is no sense of the fun of Amy. That was how she got through her problems - by laughing.

"That film, they think Amy died in July 2011 which is true. But it might sound like a cliche, but she comes to work with us every day. That's what we have got to concentrate."

And he appeared to confirm rumours that he is planning to put together his own film about Amy's life.

He said: "It is not going to be a revenge attack on Asif Kapadia, we are looking to do something positive and to talk about some of the positive things in Amy's life - like the foundation, all of Amy's wonderful friends who were ignored in the film, and the other creative work Amy did.

"There are so many great things in Amy's life that were missed in that film. It was a great opportunity that Asif Kapadia had and he didn't grab it.

"Everyone had heard that rubbish. Let's hear something new about Amy, and this is what this is about - creativity and positivity."

He made his comments at the annual Amy Winehouse Foundation Gala, where a string of stars including the singer's friend and collaborator Mark Ronson and Barbara Windsor were among the guests in attendance.

The foundation works to combat drug and alcohol abuse among young people.

Amy died in 2011 aged just 27 after a long-publicised battle with drink and drugs.

Held at The Savoy hotel in central London, the gala included performances and an auction to raise money for the charity.

Speaking on the red carpet, Mr Winehouse said: "I hope this is her legacy - obviously her music legacy will look after itself. She was a wonderful singer and a great song writer as well as being a great human being."

And he told of the "deep friendship" his daughter had with her long-time friend and collaborator Ronson, who has become a patron of the charity.

Mr Winehouse told The Press Association: "Mark Ronson and Amy made musical history - and their relationship was a deep and loving relationship.

"I don't know how they ever managed to get any work done because they were just laughing the whole time."

And he offered an insight into his daughter's charitable streak, telling how she once found a burglar in her home and offered to make him dinner.

"A burglar broke into her house and she heard him downstairs," he said.

"She went downstairs and he saw it was Amy and he said 'sorry I didn't know it was you, if I had known it was your house I wouldn't have burgled it'.

"She said 'well, can I get you something to eat?' She ended up looking after him."

Advertisement