The United States Vs Billie Holiday ★★★★ Dir. Lee Daniels SKY. ST

Biz-biopic brain full after Bohemian Rhapsody, et al? Make room for Billie Holiday.

Billie Holiday is indulgently reframed here by the playwright Suzan-Lori Parks and the movie director, Precious iconoclast and film-stock dilettante Lee Daniels, in what is a long, slow-motion McCarthyite assassination, except with enviable supperclub interludes. Brothel-raised, Lady Day’s audacity was to showcase civil rights spiritual Strange Fruit. Diana Ross was here in 1972 (Lady Sings The

Blues), but this rich cast’s revelation is fearless acting debutante and Stevie Wonder protégée Andra Day, whose smokin’ vocals need no dubs. Events shape her Billie into an infuriating recreational pincushion, patted between Fedsunder-the-bed and violent managers claiming to be saviours. Cruelly cuffed to a hospital gurney, she fobs off Bureau stalkers: “Your grandkids are gonna be singing Strange Fruit. Suck my black ass!” But Daniels saves his best provocation for the end credits, when Day discovers co-star Trevante Rhodes has two left feet. Andrew Collins