The United States vs. Billie Holiday

About The United States vs. Billie Holiday

The United States vs. Billie Holiday, released in 2021, is a biographical drama about the talented jazz and blues singer Billie Holiday. Directed by Lee Daniels from a script by Suzan-Lori Parks, the film explores the U.S. government's attempts to racially profile and harass the iconic singer, using her drug addiction as an excuse to stop her from performing her heart-rending ballad, "Strange Fruit", that spoke out against lynching. The movie is a deep and riveting portrayal of an artist’s struggle against a prejudiced system.

Making / Production

The film, directed by Lee Daniels, is based on the book ‘Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs’ by Johann Hari. It was produced with the aim to shed light on Holiday's incredible talent and the intensity of her struggles due to systemic racism and governmental interference.

Actors

• Andra Day as Billie Holiday: A fantastic performance that vibrantly brings to life both the raw talent and the personal troubles of the iconic singer.
• Trevante Rhodes as Jimmy Fletcher: Rhodes plays the complex role of the Federal agent tasked with surveilling Holiday, who ends up falling for her.
• Garrett Hedlund as Harry J. Anslinger: Hedlund gives a chilling performance as the dogged head of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics with a personal vendetta against Holiday.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• This is the first acting role of Grammy-nominated singer Andra Day.
• The film includes original recordings of Billie Holiday's performances.
• The film focuses on the civil rights aspect of Holiday's song "Strange Fruit", a controversial song for its time.

Awards

Andra Day won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Drama for her powerful performance as Billie Holiday, marking her film debut.

Quotes

• "Just singing the damn truth."
• "Your grandkids will be singing 'Strange Fruit'."

Music, Soundtrack

• Andra Day performed several of Billie Holiday’s songs for the movie, including "Ain't Nobody's Business", "Them There Eyes", "All of Me", and, notably, "Strange Fruit".