The United States vs Billie Holiday
Overview
The United States vs. Billie Holiday is a 2021 biographical drama film directed by Lee Daniels, based on the 2015 book Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs by Johann Hari. The film stars Andra Day as Billie Holiday, a legendary jazz singer who was targeted by the Federal Bureau of Narcotics for her song "Strange Fruit," which protested the lynching of Black Americans. The film follows her struggle with addiction, her relationships, and her persecution by the government. It was a critical and commercial success, earning over $6 million on a $25 million budget. Andra Day gives a powerful, transformative performance as Holiday, winning the Golden Globe for Best Actress. The film is a must-see for fans of Billie Holiday and for anyone interested in the history of the War on Drugs. The film is a powerful, heartbreaking, and infuriating portrait of a woman who was destroyed by the system.
