THE UNITED STATES VS. BILLIE HOLIDAY
USA, 2021 / 131 min / English OV with subt. French & Dutch / Drama, Biopic, Music
The tragic story of black jazz singer Billie Holiday in a racially divided 1940s America.
The legendary Billie Holiday, one of the greatest jazz musicians of all time, spent much of her career being adored by fans across the globe, all while the Federal Department of Narcotics targeted her with an undercover sting operation led by black Federal Agent Jimmy Fletcher, with whom she had a tumultuous affair. Beginning in the 1940s in New York City, the federal government became aware of her drug addiction and set their sights on her in a growing effort to escalate and racialise the war on drugs, ultimately aiming to stop her from singing her controversial and heart-wrenching ballad, “Strange Fruit.”
Inspired by Billie Holiday’s life story, The United States vs. Billie Holiday intimately examines the singers’ struggles with addiction, fame and heartbreaking love.
The screening will be preceded by the Festival's Awards Ceremony and the announcement of the winning films, for a total of about one hour.
| Sat | 13/03 | 19:00 | Kinepolis Kirchberg | EN OV with subt. FR & NL subt. | Projection privée | |
| Sat | 13/03 | 19:00 | Kinepolis Kirchberg | EN OV with subt. FR & NL subt. | Public | https://luxfilmfestfilms.megatix.be/en/HO00003343 |
Lee Daniels was born in 1959 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After studying at the University of Missouri, he moved to Hollywood. At the age of 21, he founded his own nursing company before selling it to get into the film business. After several producing credits, he got into directing with his first feature Shadowboxer (2005). In 2009, his career took a decisive turn thanks to Precious which earned him six Oscar nominations, winning Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress. His next feature, The Paperboy (2012), was nominated for a Golden Globe and the Palme d’Or in Cannes. In 2013, he directed The Butler, focusing once more on racial inequalities in the US and winning accolades. The United States vs. Billie Holiday (2021) is his latest feature. Besides directing for cinema, he has also executive produced, written and directed multiple episodes of the critically acclaimed TV series Empire (2015-2020).
- 2021 – The United States vs. Billie Holiday
- 2020 – Good People
- 2016 – Star (3 episodes of the TV series)
- 2013 – Lee Daniels’ The Butler
- 2015 – Empire (3 episodes of the TV series)
- 2012 – The Paperboy
- 2009 – Precious
- 2005 – Shadowboxer