Whitney Houston documentary screens at Cannes

Three years ago, the Cannes Film Festival looked back at the turbulent life of the late British musician Amy Winehouse with Asif Kapadia’s “Amy” documentary, which went on to win an Oscar. In 2018, filmmaker Kevin Macdonald is focusing on another famous female artist, with his Whitney Houston documentary, showing in an out-of-competition screening, Wednesday, May 16.

As well as being known for his BAFTA-winning movie “The Last King of Scotland”, Kevin Macdonald is no stranger to documentaries. In 2000, the filmmaker won an Oscar for “One Day in September”, about Israeli athletes being taken hostage at the Munich Olympics in September 1972. Twelve years later, he made “Marley”, about the life, music and legacy of Bob Marley, one of the key figures of 20th-century music.

This year, the British director returns with a documentary about the life of Whitney Houston, who famously sang “I Will Always Love You” from the original soundtrack to the 1992 movie “The Bodyguard”, in which she also starred.

The American singer was one of the biggest-selling female solo artists of all time, selling more than 200 million albums. Whitney Houston also holds the record for the most consecutive number one singles in the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Screening Wednesday, May 16 at the Cannes Film Festival, “Whitney” is the first documentary officially authorized by the late singer’s family and notably looks at the artist’s personal and her struggles with addiction.

“Whitney” opens July 6 in United States theaters. JB

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