Chevalier College experiment, a new educational approach

(School photos from the college Facebook page.)

Last November there was controversy about this plan and we posted,

In 2024, Chevalier College plans to implement a new and innovative educational approach that empowers students and redefines learning. Future Facing will change the way Chevalier students learn, creating a contemporary educational experience with Knowledge, Capabilities and Self-development at its core. By using time more effectively to maximise engagement and personal growth, students connect more deeply with their learning, acquiring complex capabilities and greater self-awareness to help them flourish in a rapidly changing world.

The college report noted:

Recent media has inaccurately reported on the initiatives being implemented at Chevalier College in 2024.

Incorrect: Chevalier is running a 4-day week for Years 10-12. Correction:

Chevalier is not moving to a four-day week for any year group. Students in Years 10-12 will be invited to learn from home on some Mondays and only if they meet certain criteria.

All students in Years 7-12 will be required to complete a detailed and thorough micro-credential course which takes approximately 3-4 hours to complete. Only students in Years 10-12 who complete the course will have the opportunity to learn from home on some Mondays, meaning those students need to earn the right to do so.

The first step will be the attainment of the micro-credential.

The second step will be that their parents attend a workshop on-site at the College to understand how learning from home will work, before they give permission. These sessions will also include information for parents about keeping students safe online in the home environment.

Last week, ABC Radio had a substantial segment on The World Today, which can be downloaded from the ABC site.  The report took a favourable perspective on what has happened so far, acknowledging that last year some parents removed their children from the college. The present report has a story interviewing a student and her parents as well as an Assistant Principal and a teacher.

Some highlights:

Flexible learning showing promise preparing high school students for post-COVID, hybrid working world

• In short: A private high school says surveys of students learning from home one day a week have been positive.
• Chevalier College students say the new timetable is reducing their stress levels and helping them manage their time.
• What's next? The school will consider adopting the flexible model permanently at the end of the year.

Catholic private school Chevalier College has just finished its first term of flexible learning. So far, more than 100 senior students have opted in to the trial which gives students greater flexibility in their timetables.

Chevalier College assistant principal Rebecca Graham said part of the challenge has been explaining the goals of the program. "Schools like ours often have quite a big dropout rate once kids get to university," she said. "[Students] have been spoon fed, and they haven't had to be self-directed."

The school has been conducting surveys of students to learn how they are adapting to the new schedule. The positive responses have helped win over some of the sceptical parents. "The first survey results when we sat down and had a look at it were actually far more positive than what we anticipated," Ms Graham said. "It is not perfect at the moment, but we certainly know that the balance that kids are finding in the day is a positive one.

Some Monday photos from around the province

Pat Mara preached at St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney, on the feast of St Patrick.

A memorial Mass for those who died at Westfield, Bondi Junction, at Cuskelly House, Blackburn. 

Breath courses have not harmed John Bosman.

Albert Chan moved to Kensington Monastery,

his farewell

Heart-Centred Leadership: Anne McAtomney, Director of the Chevalier Institute, sent us this photo of their most recent program. She writes, “Pictured moments ahead of returning home are participants in the Chevalier Institute’s most recent programme conducted at Douglas Park – Heart-Centred Leadership – along with Bob Irwin MSC, who generously attends towards the end of the programme for a session involving the sharing of his school leadership wisdom in response to retreatants’ questions. This was a wonderful week in all respects.”

Laity of the Chevalier Family: Members of the Council

Today we post a photo of the official thank you to Chevalier College Australia for all the help they offered in the preparations for the Assembly of Laity. Mr Greg Miller, Principal of the College is receiving the official thank you plaque on behalf of the College and the staff who offered their expertise for us. Thank you. With Alison McKenzie, General Secretary.

Introduction to each of the Members of the Council

Our Spiritual Companion : Sr Merle Salazar FDNSC - Philippines

I am Sr Merle Salazar, fdnsc, a member of the Congregation of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. It is my honor and pleasure to be the Spiritual Companion of the International Council of the Laity of the Chevalier Family for these coming years. I stand on the shoulders of a great MSC, Fr Hans Kwakman, who finished his service as Spiritual Companion to the IC last January.

I was at the 4th International Assembly in Cebu where I met a number of you in person and where we experienced very clearly that the Spirit is with us and is leading our Chevalier family. It is my wish and prayer that, walking together as companions on the journey, we may truly become more and more the Heart of God in the places and circumstances where we find ourselves. At the moment, I am based in Manila and my main mission is as Sabbatical Program Coordinator at the East Asian Pastoral Institute (EAPI), a Jesuit-run institute that forms pastoral leaders and missionaries for a renewed Church. Together, let us make the Sacred Heart of Jesus everywhere loved, forever!

Patricia Antonieta Rivas Molina – Guatemala

I was born in the capital city of Guatemala. I am single by vocation. I studied and was also a professor at the Jesuit Catholic University of my country as a Public Accountant and Auditor. Years later, I also completed a degree in Theology at the same university. Since university until today I work in Public Accounting and Auditing.

• Since my childhood my parents instilled in me the “devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus”, which would accompany me throughout my childhood and youth. In 1998, at the parish Lenten retreat, we were invited to belong to the first community of lay people, and the experience of deepening devotion to the formation of “the spirituality of the Heart of Jesus” began. I participated in the Spirituality courses organized by Cor América, in Minas Gerais, Brazil (2014); in Lima Peru (2023) and at the Third Assembly of the laity of the Chevalier Family in Sao Paulo, Brazil (2017).

In my lay community I took up formation after the first public promise. I am currently the coordinator of the National Council. I have coordinated the animation server team of the group of seniors, and the community of the neighbourhood to make the parish present in it, through the celebrations of the liturgical year.

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Aidan Johnson – Australia.

I am Aidan Johnson. I am married to Clare and I am a member of the Australian Council of the Laity of the Chevalier Family. I completed my schooling at Chevalier College (MSC), Bowral and have remained heavily involved with the MSCs and the wider Chevalier Family. I have qualifications in forensic science, education and theology and I have been teaching science in Australian Catholic schools for over 10 years. My wife Clare and I are members of the Australian Council of the Laity of the Chevalier Family. I established and continue to oversee Heartworks, MSC Young Adults Community and I manage the social media platforms for the Australian Council of the Laity of the Chevalier Family.

Eve Jaike Morandante (Ainne), Philippines.

I am Eve Jaike “ainne” Morandante. I’m the eldest daughter in our family: I have two sisters, one brother, one niece, one brother in-law and a widower father. I studied Computer Science and work in Makati before my mother got sick that led me to go back home in Surigao.

Initially, I was attracted with the Chevalier Family Lay Associates because of Sacred Heart of Jesus and upon completing the Formation (sometimes one-on-one session with Sr. Betty, FDNSC) I became a fully member of the Chevalier Family in June 29, 2015. Until today, I’m trying to live out the Charism and Spirituality of the Heart of Fr. Jules Chevalier despite the challenges of everyday life. I was an Assistant Secretary in Surigao District in 2016 and District Secretary since 2017 up to this day and was able to attend various assemblies and meetings in local - national level.

Currently, I am the Parish Secretary of Virgen de la Paz y Buen Viaje in Bilang-Bilang, Surigao City since 2019, a Parish Formator, and PPC Secretary in 2017-2021. Aside being a Chevalier Associate, I’m also a Chevalier Partner in Mission with the DOLSH. Before the pandemic, I am actively present, volunteer, and participates the apostolate of the DOLSH Sister with the Badjao Community here in Surigao City since 2015 especially in teaching basic lessons to our less fortunate brothers and sisters.

I believe through these; giving myself, my time and some talents, I was able to give back all the blessings I continuously received from our Almighty Father with the intercession of Our Lady of Sacred Heart. And I commit myself to serve as Chevalier Family Lay Associate in the local community, national, and international as temporary member to the Council of the of International Laity of the Chevalier Family.

Petrus Sidarta Maringka – Indonesia.

My name is Petrus Sidarta Maringka from Indonesia. I am married to my beautiful wife Shirley Mohidi, and we have three children, Findley, Fidela, and Florian. I am working as a dentist and have my practice in Jakarta. I am a passionate and driven individual with a keen curiosity for learning and exploring new ideas. I mastered organizational skills, thrive on challenges, and am always eager to push the boundaries of my knowledge and abilities. Whether it is through creative endeavors or problem-solving in my professional or religious life, I strive to bring enthusiasm, empathy, and a positive attitude to everything I do. I value integrity, authenticity, and continuous personal growth, and I am committed to making a positive impact on the world around me.

I grew up in the MSC parish of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Jakarta. Therefore, since childhood, many MSC priests influenced me a lot with their way of life and thinking as I became their altar boy. Their motto “May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be loved everywhere” is also very familiar to me. I have accompanied a community namely “New Heart Community” for single Catholic young adults since 2007 and this community used to be under the MSC lay movement. Along with my presence with this community, I also went to many places in Indonesia, visited some Parishes or Dioceses outside Jakarta, and gave motivational and personality workshops to lay people. In July 2022, I was elected as National Vice Chair of the Laity of the Chevalier Family for a three-year tenure and this is for the first time that Indonesia has its own National Board.

Dorothy Pion – Papua New Guinea.

I'm Dorothy Pion from Papua New Guinea (PNG). Since 2012, I have been actively involved as an MSC Lay Associate, serving as the Coordinator from 2015 to 2021. I am delighted to be part of the Chevalier Family as a Laity. My life is blessed with my marriage to Nicholas Pion, and together, we cherish our four wonderful children.

Professionally, I work with the Geological Survey of PNG, a division of the Mineral Resources Authority Papua New Guinea, where I hold the position of Senior Cartographer. In this role, I engage in map-making and work extensively with GIS and geological data.

Within the community of St Charles Lwanga Parish in Gerehu, Port Moresby, I actively participate in the Parish Pastoral Council, where I serve as the treasurer. Additionally, my husband and I are committed to facilitating Pre-Cana classes for couples preparing for marriage. I also dedicate my time as a Sunday School Teacher, contributing to the spiritual education of our parish community whenever I am in attendance.

MSC General Leadership Team, Organizational Chart, 2023 - 2029

For the record, for your information and reference.

Abzalon, Superior General

Asia Team: Chris, Gene, Bram

India, Vietnam & Korea – Gene

Philippines – Bram

Indonesia, Japan – Chris

Oceania Team: Gene, Simon, Chris

Australia & PNG – Chris, Gene

Pacific Islands – Simon

Europe Team: Bernard & Simon

Africa Team: Simon & Bernard

U.A.F. & Mozambique – Bernard

Anglophone Africa - Simon

Latin America Team: Bram,

Bernard

North America Team: Chris,

Gene

Chris

Dependencies of the Generalate (DG’s), OGF Commission - Chris

Chaplin

Finance (FAB, GFC, Projects Office, Serra Fund), Brothers

Commission - Bernard Mongeau.

Brothers Commission, Initial Formation Commission - Simon

Lumpini.

Initial Formation Commission - Bram Tulusan

Laity, Administration (incl. Archive process) - Gene Pejo.

Bernard

Communications Desk – Bram Tulusan.

JPIC Desk – Simon Lumpini.

Cor Vitae Tri-Generalate Liaison – Gene Pejo.

Cor America Tri-Generalate Liaison – Bernard Mongeau.

Safeguarding – Bram Tulusan.

DG’s Europe – Bernard Mongeau.

Territory Executives – Chris Chaplin.

Bram

DG’s Europe & Issoudun – Carl Tranter, MSC.

JPIC - Richie Gomez, MSC.

Initial Formation – Humberto Henriques, MSC.

Communication – Javier Trapero.

Safeguarding Office – [pending restructuring - Bram Tulusan &

Tina Campbell].

Project Office - Irudaya Raj, MSC [pending restructuring].

Reconfiguration of Services the General House

Simon

Administration Line Manager: Gene Pejo

A. Secretariat Team

• Secretary General:

Mike Miller MSC (On June 1st – Richard Suresh MSC)

• Administrative

Assistant: Richard Suresh MSC (On June 1st Iruday Araj MSC)

• Procurator & Postulator: Fernando Clemente Santos MSC
• IT : Stefano Angelucci

B. Finance

• Finance Line Manager: Bernard Mongeau MSC
• General Bursar: Benny Laisina MSC
• Office Assistant: Sofia Amante

Gene

C. Generalate Local Community

• Local Superior:

Mike Miller MSC (On June 1st – Richard Suresh MSC)

• House Manager:

Sofia Amante

• Household Services: Jhonatan Palacay Viesta & Willy Castro Ku

Mary Scarfe turns 90 today, April 18^th.  She is well-known to many MSC.

Mary with Peter Cantwell OFM.

Mary was a Marriage Counsellor with the Catholic Family Welfare Bureau in Melbourne when she was invited by Peter Cantwell OFM to work with him on counselling courses at the Yarra Theological Union. Mary was the first woman lecturer at YTU, teaching there for over twenty years.

Mary also worked for a number of Renewal programs at Douglas Park and with MSC Formation. She also contributed to the MSC Theology Review, Compass.

When the Heart of Life Centre was established, she became part of the staff, seminars and supervision for many years.

At Heart of Life: Peter Malone, Paul Beirne, Mary, Brian Gallagher.

Mary contributed a memoir to the 50^th anniversary celebration of YTU book, Aiming for Excellence. She now lives at the MacKillop Centre, East Hawthorn.

This is an opportunity to express our appreciation to Mary for long friendship and contribution to MSC life.

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Jules Bicentenary, FDNSC Sisters 150 Years

The Chevalier Family has sent out this April reminder of these 2024 events.

Jules Chevalier names Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.

His life:

In Issoudun, one afternoon in 1859, in the shade of some lime trees, where Rules Chevalier and some companions were sheltering from the spring heat, he asked them this question: "Under what title shall we place the chapel of the Virgin in our church?" Rules was obsessed with the idea. There were several proposals for a new name, but Rules was clear: "We will have Our Lady of the Sacred Heart". He turned to her for help in founding the congregation and, grateful for the favours granted, promised to give her a special place. Two years later, in 1861, faithful to his promise, he also had the stained glass window of the church made, in which the first image of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart would appear.

Due to the success of the publication of an article by Fr Chevalier in the Messenger of the Heart of Jesus and the campaign for images for the construction of the church, devotion to Our Lady of the  Sacred  Heart spread quickly. In 1864, the Association was founded.

His words:

Artist, Richard Campbell

This is how he described to the artist what it should look like: "...it will represent the Immaculate Virgin, of normal size, with her hands and eyes turned downwards, towards the Child Jesus who will be in front of her. On his breast the child will have his little heart surrounded by rays, which he will show to the faithful with his finger". (Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Jan G. Bovenmars, msc, p. 15).

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart: "This word means that Mary, as a consequence of her divine motherhood, possesses great power over the Heart of Jesus, and it is through her that we must go to this divine Heart". (Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Jan G. Bovenmars, msc. p. 29).

"Let us often say to her: Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, pray for us" (MI 718).

The love for Our Lady of the Sacred Heart has reached our days with the same enthusiasm with which Jules Chevalier made her the protagonist of the congregation. It has spread to all continents and is still very topical, not least because John Paul II, in his encyclical letter Redemptoris Mater (RM, March 1987), makes several comments about her.

And when Chevalier further adds that Mary is "the hope of the hopeless", John Paul II echoes him by saying that She "remains for all a sure sign of hope" (RM 11).

Around the Congregation, MSC Photos.

Philippines:

Older MSC remember Rudy Abao MSC who studied with us at Croydon in the first half of the 1960s, was provincial, was socially active, including prison.

Congratulations on his 85^th birthday

Dominic Gleeson in India, more than retreats:

Some photographs of the vocations showcase here in Kerala, India.  Many thanks again to Trieu who arranged for quite a of MSC vocations materials to be forwarded to India via Vietnam.

New Provincial in Central America

And Simon Mani, rector of the Pacific Regional Seminary, Suva

LATE NIGHT WITH OF THE DEVIL

Australia, 2023, 93 minutes, Colour.

David Dastmalchian, Laura Gordon, Ian Bliss, Fayssal Bazzi, Ingrid Torelli, Rhys Auteri Georgina Hague, Josh Quong Tart.

Directed by Colin Cairnes, Cameron Cairnes.

From the early days of television, there have been popular programs at night, the popular host who builds up a reputation over the years, a range of guests, music and song, novelties, interviews, and an eager and applauding audience. Most of us know this from our own television watching experience, our favourite hosts.

The inventiveness of the Australian filmmakers, Cameron and Colin Cairnes noted for their horror-comedy, 100 Bloody Acres) have taken the Late Night popularity and mined it for making a horror film. And, very successfully. While the setting is the US, and the main star American, the film was made in Melbourne with an Australian cast.

They have used the found-footage genre, popular now for a quarter of a century. We are back in the 1970s. Johnny Carson reigns supreme on late night television. And this is a story of Jack Delroy, played very effectively by American character actor, David Dastmalchian, perfectly embodying the TV host – and, Australians with long memories, maybe remembering the host of the 1970s, Don Lane an American, but very popular in Australia.

The film offers a very interesting introduction, the ups and downs of Delroy’s career on late night, his program, Night Owl, and his not claiming the top in audience reach. We see scenes of his program, especially with his former-actress wife, who then contracts cancer and dies, leaving him bereft.

We are taken very easily into this television past. However, the introduction also tells us that we are about to see a Halloween episode of 1977 that never made it to air (and we see why). To make this episode more effective, intercut with the program itself are scenes, filmed in black and white, of what goes on during the breaks, the discussions, the tensions, the plans… All of which makes the film rather more credible than we might have expected.

So, we are prepared then for the Halloween program itself, Jack and his ambitions to do well in the ratings, some rumblings with his assistant, Gus, questions about the sponsors, pressures from the producer during the breaks. The guests have been prearranged with Halloween in mind, first of all a psychic, Christou, who performs mistakenly at first, but then with some eerie success. However, the next guest is a former magician who has turned into a major sceptic and committed to exposing frauds – with some dire  results in his confrontation with Christou.

But the key sequence is with a young girl, a survivor of a satanic cult (with some footage included of their sinister meetings, and the destructive house fire) along with her doctor, a parapsychological expert, who has the capacity to hypnotise the girl and make the presence of the satanic figure perfectly real.

Not a spoiler but this all comes to vivid life, with some horror touches!

Interesting is that after the audience in the studio and ourselves see the strange phenomena, everyone hypnotised, the idea is to check on the playback. And, it is all there!

There have been some sinister suggestions that Jack Delroy has been involved with a group of men meeting, allegedly a male camp, but with sinister robes and incantations.

Is all that happens on this program something diabolical, Jack and his group, Jack and his huge ambitions for popularity, a late night pact with the devil?

1. The title, late night TV shows, compares, staff, guests, audience? Fame, ratings? And pacts with the devil?
2. An Australian production, directors, cast, made in Australia? Australian perspective on late-night talk shows, memories of the past?
3. The setting in the 1970s, the famous hosts, the development of the decades, audiences familiar with this kind of programming? Following the careers of the hosts? Enjoying the guests and interviews? The novelties?
4. Popularity of found-footage films? Variations on possibilities? The episode of Night Owl which never went to air? The black-and-white footage of action behind the scenes? The blend of the two?
5. The introduction, memories of the shows, references to Johnny Carson and other contemporary shows? Ratings, competition? The appeal to older audience memories?
6. Jack Delroy, the performance and presence by David S Malki, embodying the compere, style, jokes, appeal to the audience, catchphrases, Gus and his support? Is ambitions, the ratings? Relationship with his wife, her actress background, her appearance on his shows, her cancer, her death? The discussions with Leo, the producer?
7. The reference to the men, the Grove, the visuals of the gathering, the satanic implications? Pacts? Secrecy? And the revelation about the satanic church, the visualising of ritual rituals, blood, violence, the leadership? The attack, the burning house, the deaths, Lily surviving?
8. The planning of the show, to have the psychic, the sceptic, the doctor and Lily? The audience and their response? The Halloween setting, the costumes, the atmosphere, expectations?
9. Chris two, his presence, personality, claims, the interviews, his accent, mind reading, Larry and his volunteering, and the expose and Christie’s mistakes? The change to the mother and daughter, the death, the communication, references to the door in the past? The effect? The connection with Minnie – Jack and his wedding ring? The introduction of Car, sceptic, the challenge to Christou, the sparring, Bristow and his spouting, the effect, his collapse, hospital, the news of his death?
10. Car, the past magician, his tricks, sceptic, the expose of Christou?
11. The buildup to June and Lily, the background, the visuals, Lily is a survivor, her age, looking at the camera, her intensity, friendliness? June, her qualifications, the two women and their clashes with Car? His condescension?
12. June, weary, not wanting the episode, pressure, the episode, the visuals of Lily, the Mr Recalls emergence, diabolical, her voice, split head, hypnosis? Her return to normal, the explanation of not remembering?
13. Car, his demonstration with gas, gas and his anxiety, wanting to quit, the news of Christou’s death, agreeing to be the subject, the hypnosis, his denials, the hypnotic state, the wound on his neck, the worms, his stomach bursting? Coming out of the trans? The audience hypnotised, the film audience and their equivalents of hypnotism?
14. The reality, the replaying of the scenes? Gas? Of Lily?
15. The atmosphere, the audience and their responses? Behind-the-scenes, the technicians, the news of Christou’s death, people leaving?
16. The finale, contortions, deaths, June hanging, Lily in the midst of it, car being burnt, Gus and his death?
17. The issue of sponsorship, the advertisements, the commercials throughout? The response of the public, the ratings?
18. Jack, his wife appearing in the replay, ghostly presence? The challenge about his being member of The Group? His going through his career, the replay of the scenes? His fame – at what price?
19. An effective horror film with the conventions? The found-footage genre? The critique of television, fame, audiences, ambitions? Pacts with the Devil?

ROBOT DREAMS

Spain, 2023, 102 minutes, Colour.

Directed by Pablo Berger.

Here is an animation film was great appeal to younger audiences, an entertainment for older audiences.

It is also a Spanish production, Spanish animation. However, it is very much geared for an English-speaking audiences around the world, based on a comic book of 2007, but set in New York City in 1984 (and, of contemporary audiences, the frequent presentation of the Twin Towers and memories of 9/11 and its consequences).

While there are signs in English, roadsigns, shops, the subway… And only a word or two of exclamation is heard throughout the whole film, except for the range of songs in the background and their lyrics. To that extent, the film works like a silent film, the audience responding to the characters, performance, incident, interactions. And, given the characters, the wordless narrative means that the film is very easily accessible even to small children.

The animation style is very enjoyable. It is amazing to watch how much can be discovered about characters with simple drawing. Here it is mainly through the eyes and the mouth. The eyes are simply circles with black dots – but the movement of the eyes is extraordinarily lively. As regards the mouth, it is a simple small curve line, able to smile, able to look disappointed – and, sometimes opened up to communicate communication. The impact of the story and characters depends on this.

But, there is also the vivid background of New York City, streets and departments, shops, and visits to Ocean Beach.

The central character is Dog, the opening illustrating how alone he is in his apartment, watching television, computer games, suddenly seeing an advertisement for a companion robot, ordering it, busy about putting it together, and the robot coming alive – with its eyes and its mouth indicating an inner life as well as affection for Dog, and the capacity for imitating anything and everything. The joy of the early part of the film consists of the various exclusions and sharing between Robot and Dog, especially an excursion to Ocean Beach.

However, with all the pleasant scenes, there are some sad sequences, Robot battery using up all the oil and becoming immobile on the beach, and stranded there for months because of the closing of the beach for winter, Dog doing his best to retrieve Robot but ousted by the severe guards.

And the dreams of the title? Robot does have some moments where he seems to be rescued, returning back to Dog with reconciliation, only to find he has been dreaming. And, in his sadness, Dog has a variety of dreams. And the content of the dream and the emotion plays with the emotions of the audience.

There is a variety of incidents which also appeal, birds on the windowsill watching Dog quitting robot together, a bird on the beach and her three chicks and their learning to fly, a team of rabbits who come ashore and who take part of Robot to plug the rowboat.

And, that is not all, there is the animal with the metal detector on the beach, discovering Robot leading to further adventures. And, then, a new character, school, who reconstructs robot.

And, emotions, the playing of the song that both characters liked, the testing of affections…

A pleasing experience, excellent animation, and the wonder of responding to appearances, body language, without characters expressing themselves in words.

BACK TO BLACK

UK, 2024, 122 minutes, Colour.

Marisa Abella, Jack O'Connell, Eddie Marsan, Lesley Manville, Juliet Cowan, Sam Buchanan.

Directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson.

Back to Black is the title of one of Amy Winehouse’s best-known songs.

There is a television series titled Too Young to Die. Certainly a title for a film portrait of singer, Amy Winehouse, dying in 2011 at the age of 27, it already a five-time Grammy winner, awards in the UK, popularity in the United States.

For audiences who are familiar with Amy Winehouse and her career, this is a two-hour overview portrait of her life and and musical success. Fans of the film are enthusiastic. Critics less so, delving into the film and its screenplay and criticisms of simplification – which is always the case in two-hour film which does not intend to give a full life story. For those fans, there is a documentary by celebrated director, Asif Kapadia, Amy, 2015, which also runs for over two hours.

One of the difficulties in a film about Amy Winehouse is that, while she had enormous popularity with her career songs, many people did not respond well to her as a person, as a personality. Again, for those who are fans, there is plenty to see and reflect on in this film. For those who do not respond well to her, the screenplay by Matt Greenhalgh, who had been tuned into British music history with his portrait of Ian Curtis of Joy Division, Control, 2007, biography of the young John Lennon, Nowhere Boy (2009), the portrait of the London entrepreneur, Paul Raymond, The Look of Love, 2013, works well. Within the first 10 minutes of the film, there is a sequence of the older Amy rushing headlong down the street, then situating Amy and her family, the Jewish background, her ability to sing, relationship with her fatherNan, Eddie Marsan, who is separated from her mother, and her loving man, Lesley Manville.

While there are many of the songs, and star Marisa Abella, who offers what is often called a powerhouse performance, singing herself, there is also a musical score by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis.

The film shows the ability of Amy Winehouse and her powerful voice, her love of jazz, and not wanting to be seen as another Spice Girl, the steps of her rising fame, singing in the pubs, the attention of producers, companies, records, popularity, awards, finding the right time for being inserted into the US musical consciousness, the tours, and, ultimately, five Grammy awards.

On the other hand, Amy Winehouse died at the age of 27 alcoholic poisoning. She is a wilful personality, ambitious, violent outbursts, especially towards the video producer, Blake (Jack O’Connell), an addict, who becomes the object of her love and infatuation, an up-and-down relationship, her violence towards him, his prison term, a divorce – yet, as the screenplay highlights, the continual reference to him in her songs, and during their time together, his presence at her concerts.

Which means that this is also a very sad story of a young woman, alcoholic, suffering from bulimia, anti-drug yet introduced to them, unwilling to go to rehab but finally agreeing (and the hit song Rehab), the deep desire for family and children, sober for a time, yet relapsing and dying.

The film has been directed by Sam Taylor Johnson who also directed Nowhere Boy, the film about John Lennon.

1. The title? Amy Winehouse and her career, hit songs?
2. The London settings, the 1990s, the 2000s? London suburbs, streets and homes, Camden, the pubs, the concert venues, offices and studios, rehab? The scenes in the US, the concerts, Florida, the wedding? The background of Amy Winehouse’s life?
3. The music, the songs, the lyrics, the performance, throughout the film, songs at home, background, award occasions?
4. The opening, Amy running, symbolic? At home, the Jewish background and songs, her singing Fly me to the Moon? Mitch joining in? Family atmosphere, living with her mother, her parents separated, the importance of her relationship with her Nan? The box of photos? At home with her mother, her father taxi driving? Nan and her career, her vision for Amy?
5. Amy, drinking, her attitude towards drugs? The wilful personality, drinking? The contact from Nick, performances, contracts, manager? The companies? Her records, the British public, popularity, her continuing success? The issue of America? Her reluctance? A new manager, the company board, their attitude towards the right time for America? Eventually going, performances? Her return to America, marrying Blake in Florida?
6. Amy and her age, experience, the encounter with Blake, playing pool, his singing, his discovering who she was? The bonding, competition, his girlfriend? The invitation for a cup of tea, his arrival, the relationship, the jealousy of the girlfriend? The rocky relationship, Amy and her devotion to Blake, the drinking, the outbursts, hitting him, his reactions? The up-and-down relationship? Her father’s disapproval? Nan and her support? The reaction to the wedding?
7. Mitch, his background, the divorce, supporting Amy, her success, his pride, his reprimands?
8. The ups and downs of the marriage, violence, Blake and his arrest, going to jail, background of his drugs, cocaine, Amy’s reactions? The visit to jail, his wanting a divorce?
9. Amy, her wanting a family, wanting a family with Blake? Disappointment at not being pregnant?
10. The joy of the Grammy awards, Tony Bennett, family, friends, the speech?
11. Amy and her drinking, the consequences? The pressure of the paparazzi, always there, the photographs, calling out to her? In the media, photos, the magazines?
12. The issue of rehab, talking with her father, going to the rehab – and the later success of the Rehab song?
13. Lee Mia, alcohol, relationships, her young age, disappointment about pregnancy, her death?
14. Age 27, achievements, yet a whole life before her? Her place in British popular music?