Hulu's Oscar-nominated documentary The United States vs. Billie Holiday is a fictitious account of the iconic jazz singer's life, starring Andra Day, who won a Golden Globe for her role as “Rise Up” singer and actress (now nominated for an Academy Award). While the film follows Holiday's struggles to sustain her work while being pursued by law enforcement and battling substance misuse, it is more than simply a portrayal of one artist's life: it also conveys an essential tale about the roots of America's drug war.
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The United States Vs Billie Holiday
The film opens with text stating that in 1937, the United States Senate discussed but failed to adopt an anti-lynching measure. Billie Holiday's song “Strange Fruit,” about lynching, helped propel her to prominence. Billie meets with Reginald Lord Devine, a radio journalist, for an interview in 1957, accompanied by Freddy. He inquires about what it's like to be a “brown lady” and the mischief she's gotten herself into as a result of “Strange Fruit.” Billie claims that it is about human rights, which the government frequently overlooks.
Soldier Jimmy Fletcher, actress Tallulah Bankhead, Billie's husband Monroe, and her manager Joe Glaser are in the crowd when Billie performs in 1947. Fans can meet Billie thanks to Roslyn and Monroe, but Monroe won't allow Jimmy meet her. Later, Glaser and Monroe, who had grown close to FBI agent Harry J.
They claim that high-ranking government officials do not want to hear her perform it, that Monroe physically threatens her. Billie's saxophonist, Lester Young, encourages her to play it.Billie is a menace, according to Anslinger, since her song promotes the incorrect beliefs and she hasn't stopped performing it. They decide to pursue her on drug charges after failing to arrest her for singing.
Billie and her boyfriend Joe Guy are both heroin addicts. Billie's next concert is for troops, and she'll be joined by Louis Armstrong. Jimmy goes to see Billie after the concert and sees her using drugs.
People in the audience shout at Billie to play “Strange Fruit” during her next performance. Billie's manager pulls her off the stage, the cops arrive, and her band drags her away. After that, the FBI shows up to Joe's and arrests everyone for drug usage and possession, including Jimmy, who reveals out to be an agent rather than a soldier.
Billie believes she has been deceived. Billie is shamed in court by the media. Jimmy is congratulated by Anslinger on his capture. Billie is sentenced to a year in prison by the court. Joe was subsequently shown to have been paid off by Anslinger.
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How The United States Vs Billie Holiday Ended?
Louis marries Billie. The marriage is harsh, and there is a lot of drug usage going on. The cops capture them again and try to put them in jail, but they manage to get away. Anslinger meets with Louis and instructs him to infiltrate Billie with heroin. Jimmy attends a performance, goes backstage, and kisses Billie. Louis enters, the two quarrel, and Louis goes away. Billie later informs Jimmy that she is suffering from liver failure.
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Jimmy visits her in the hospital. When Louis arrives at the hospital, he gets into a fight with Jimmy. Sam arrives to free Jimmy, as Anslinger arrives to drug her. Billie and Louis are told that unless they comply, they would never see them again. Billie assures him that one day his grandchildren will be singing “Strange Fruit.”
Billie died on July 17, 1959, at the age of 44, according to the text. Narcotics officers claimed to have discovered heroin and arrested her just as she was about to die. Anslinger served as Drug Commissioner until his retirement at the age of 70, during which time he received commendations. Until the day he died, Jimmy resented working for Anslinger.
The Grammy Hall of Fame honoured “Strange Fruit” in 1978, and it was selected Song of the Century. The Senate took up the Emmett Till Antilynching Act in February 2020, but it has yet to be enacted.
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Wrapping Up
In September 2019, Lee Daniels was named as the director of a new Billie Holiday biopic. Andra Day was cast in the lead role, with Trevante Rhodes, Garrett Hedlund, and Natasha Lyonne. Later that month, Evan Ross, Dana Gourrier, and Erik LaRay Harvey were also added. In October, more casting was announced. Daniels initially hesitant to hire Day because of her lack of acting experience, but after seeing an iPhone footage of her provided to him by her acting instructor, he changed his mind. Filming in Montreal began on October 6, 2019.
