Holiday spirit
SUPERB ANDRA DAY CHANNELS TRAGIC DIVA BILLIE, BUT CAN’T RESCUE MESSY BIOPIC BIO
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AFEROCIOUS, uncompromising lead performance from Grammy-nominated R&B star Andra Day, making her feature film debut, almost redeems director Lee Daniels’ scattershot biopic of trailblazing singer Billie Holiday.
Based on the book Chasing The Scream by journalist Johann Hari, Suzan-Lori Parks’ script employs a cumbersome framing device to ricochet through 12 years of emotional upheaval, which culminated in Holiday’s arrest for drug possession as she lay dying in the Metropolitan Hospital in New York.
In 1957, Holiday (Day) chats with columnist Reginald Lord Devine (Leslie Jordan). They discuss her song Strange Fruit, which rages against the lynching of black Americans and is described by one government agent as “a musical starting gun for this so-called civil rights movement”.
She also recounts her long-running feud with Harry J Anslinger (Garrett Hedlund), head of the
Federal Bureau of Narcotics.
The singer harks back 10 years to her performances at New York nightclub Cafe Society where she meets admirer Jimmy Fletcher (Trevante Rhodes).
The handsome former GI has been secretly hired by Anslinger to infiltrate her inner circle and Jimmy plays a pivotal role in Billie’s one-year prison sentence for heroin possession.
The FBI mole regrets his actions and becomes her protector alongside confidantes Roslyn (Da’Vine Joy Randolph) and Miss Freddy (Miss Lawrence).
Alas, Billie cannot escape the vice-like grip of drug addiction and she rebuffs Jimmy to spare him a one-way ticket down the
road to hell: “Gotta find you a nice girl, and that ain’t me.”
Colour bleeds into monochrome and back again as Daniels uses archive footage from the era, which packs a heftier emotional punch than anything he evokes.
Day is a woman possessed, shedding clothes and inhibitions to explore Holiday’s courage and her self-destructive tendencies.
Her renditions of the jazz legend’s hits are delivered with piercing clarity, soaked in pain.
Trevante Rhodes is shortchanged as the FBI agent, who spies on Holiday then becomes her lover. The complex psychology of their odd romance never comes into focus.
What results is a glittering showcase for Day but, as a coherent and compelling portrait of flawed musical genius, Daniels’ picture is off-key.
Chronology is muddy and there is a frustrating lack of clarity to on screen relationships.
The musical sequences are dazzling, the singer giving her all to the performance, but everything else comes up regrettably short.
Sky Cinema from February 27
IT’S been a tough 12 months. Lockdown, loneliness and loss has been hard hitting thanks to the pandemic, and most of us are desperate for a holiday.
The politicians’ roadmaps have given us a little light at the end of the tunnel, but foreign escapes still feel out of reach for many, and anxiety inducing to others.
So, it’s likely we’ll be holidaying closer to home this summer – which is fine by us, as long as it’s not actually at home. Never has a local escape – ideally with family and friends we haven’t seen or hugged for eons – been more welcome.
But is it worth the stress? If last summer is anything to go by, all the best places were snapped up before we even started Googling, and the ones left seemed bang average (at best) yet absolutely extortionate.
So, is there anything left, where do we want to escape to, and when should we book?
UK HOT SPOTS
Family holiday experts Vrbo surveyed more than 7,000 parents and discovered – unsurprisingly, we’re all keen to head to the beach this summer.
Cornwall topped the list of UK destinations its customers are interested in this summer, mirroring last year’s popularity of Cornish seaside destinations, such as St Ives. Its neighbouring county of Devon, home to The English Riviera, is also proving to be a popular staycation destination, while Norfolk, Dorset and Caithness, a historic county in Scotland, round off the top five.
Karen Mullins, market insights lead for Vrbo, says: “Our latest findings show that despite a year of postponed and cancelled holidays, this year will be the summer for UK staycations. It’s great to see families fall back in love with their home country once again, and support local businesses.”
Still not sure where to book? These top locations are still available – if you’re quick...
1. CORNWALL
There aren’t many Cornish coastal locations we wouldn’t like to escape to, but St Ives really is a jewel in the crown. With an average nightly fee of £211 and availability in the summer holidays, the Stones luxury apartment in a four-storey former sea captain’s house, has panormaic views. Sleeps four.
■ Minimum three-night stay
2. DEVON
Famous for its stunning landscapes, Devon is a great choice for families wanting to escape to the countryside this year.
A break at Old Stable Cottage sleeps up to six people and is all about embracing the fresh country air and spending quality time together – there’s even an outdoor swimming pool.
Located in Okehampton and within reach of Dartmoor National Park, this cottage is a great base for anyone wanting to explore Devon.
■ Average nightly fee £287. Minimum two-night stay
3. NORFOLK
Known for its long, sandy beach, Great Yarmouth is always a hit for families, and this luxury family caravan at Hopton (see top left) sleeps up to eight people, with three bedrooms and a sofa bed.
Close to the sea with the Pleasure Beach and Fritton Lake Outdoor Centre and Country Park just 5km away, it’s the perfect escape.
■ Average nightly fee £73. Minimum three-night stay
4. DORSET
Poole is a bustling tourist resort in the east of Dorset, and is well known for Europe’s largest natural harbour and award-winning blue flag beaches, including the world famous Sandbanks Beach.
The Grey House, below, is a family-friendly property which sleeps up to six guests and is situated in the heart of Poole, with Westbourne and Bournemouth within walking distance – perfect for a coastal break this summer. ■ Average nightly fee £214. Minimum three-night stay
5. CAITHNESS
Caithness is one of the most northerly areas in Scotland and home to rolling farmland, moorland and scattered settlements.
For families wanting to explore Scotland, this apartment located in Keiss, Wick, comfortably accommodates up to six, and includes two double en-su en-suite bedrooms. Keiss is a fishing village on the east coast of Caithness, providing the perfect, tranquil escape.
■ Average nightly fee £149. Minimum three-night stay
6. CUMBRIA
Cumbria is known for the alluring Lake District National Park, home to stunning views and some of England’s biggest lakes.
Whether you’re seeking adventure or tranquillity, Combgill Cottage is a recently refurbished, beautiful historic property in the heart of the pretty village of Tirril, perfectly located for spending time in the stunning scenery of the Lakes, to disconnect from the stress of the city. Sleeps up to six.
■ Average nightly fee £289. Minimum three-night stay
7. PEMBROKESHIRE
If you fancy becoming a treasure seeker, you might want to head to the Pembrokeshire coastline, which is known for its shipwrecks and vast amount of bays and sandy beaches.
It’s a nature lover’s haven and this cosy log cabin, left, is just 5km from Tenby beach, and 1.5km from Tenby Dinosaur Park.
It sleeps up to four and is also pet friendly,
which means no family member has to be left behind.
■ Average nightly fee £221. Minimum three-night stay
8. NORTH YORKSHIRE
The area is known for being covered in national parks, and if you take a trip to the heritage coast, you’ll be sure to enjoy some of the county’s striking landscapes.
If you’re looking for a picturesque place to stay, then nestled within the Yorkshire Dales National Park is this hide away cottage, above, in Grassington village.
Sleeps four people, has two bedrooms and one bathroom.
■ Average nightly fee £125. Minimum three-night stay.
9. NORTHUMBERLAND
If you’re looking for somewhere in between the coast and countryside, then Belford in Northumberland is the perfect spot.
This converted bank property has a rooftop garden for private outdoor dining and is just 7.6km from Bamburgh Beach.
■ Average nightly fee £122. Minimum three-night stay.
10. ISLE OF WIGHT
The Isle of Wight has long been a favourite for holidaymakers, as it’s also on its own island, you can soak up that holiday feeling, even though it’s still part of the UK.
Stay in this luxury apartment (pictured above) right on the edge of Cowes, looking out onto The Solent and just 1.9km from Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s former holiday home, Osborne House. Sleeps up to four people.
■ Average nightly fee £159. Minimum three-night stay.
■ To book any of these properties and to search more, visit vrbo.com