Amy Winehouse documentary to be lesson for Thai delinquents

BANGKOK (AP) — Social workers in Thailand think the tragic story of the late singer and songwriter Amy Winehouse can be a lesson to wayward youth, so they are treating about 100 of them to a movie about her.

Winehouse, bedeviled by addictions to drug and drink before her death in 2011 at the age of 27, was the subject of a well-received documentary this year, "Amy."

The Thai Health Promotion Foundation and the Stop Drink Network arranged for nearly 100 boys from a juvenile detention center, together with dozens of university students and members of various youth groups, to watch the film on Wednesday, saying they hope it inspires them to overcome their own problems.

The film documents Winehouse's talent, how she tried to cope with the pressures of fame, and her death of accidental alcohol poisoning.

"I think Amy's story is a real story that reflects real problems in the society, especially among teenagers. When Amy felt too much pressured, she acted out and started drinking, but she was gifted and she found that gift. It's not too late for the students to find their gifts and learn from her mistakes," said Kamron Chudecha of the Stop Drink Network.

Even though Winehouse was a celebrity with fans around the world, Kamron said he sees a lot of similarities between her problems and those of juveniles in detention centers.

"These kids think the society labels them as drug addicts, alcohol addicts and criminals. When one hits rock bottom, it takes a lot of courage to fight the loneliness and criticism, like when Amy has to fight the media attention and people around her. Amy lost the battle, but these kids still have a chance," he said.

The juvenile detention center outside Bangkok houses youths sent there for serious crimes such as murder and drug-related crimes with sentences of five years or more. Books and movies are shown and discussed as part of effort to rehabilitate them.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-09-23

Naturally use a foreigner as a case study, I suppose there are no troubled Thai ' stars ' that could have been used !

Using a Thai might be more effective being relevant and easily identifiable but it would mean exposing something negative too close to home and that would never do.

Anna Reese would be better.

She hardly lived in squalor and ruined anyone elses life did she.

If nothing else the kids will be exposed to some very good music.... "he left no time for regret, kept his dick wet" ... classic Amy !

Lighten up. It is a documentary and it MAY help. If it helps one child to stay off drugs, then Amy did her job.

should show it to the ROYAL thai police cause they selling their confiscated yaba through their dogs(addicted yaba users)

Problem is with using someone famous and talented like that is, it all looks great and an enviable lifestyle until she drops dead.

hearing here sing = torture

and hearing her speak, WOT WOT, YU GOTTAH BEE KIDIN' ME AIGHT ?

Pop stars and footballers are the last people you want to use as role models for young impressionable people.

Many of them are so doped up on coke or plain stupid their managers wont let them speak in public.

Naturally use a foreigner as a case study, I suppose there are no troubled Thai ' stars ' that could have been used !

Using a Thai might be more effective being relevant and easily identifiable but it would mean exposing something negative too close to home and that would never do.

On the other hand it could be something to do with the fact that there are no other documentaries available and if there were they certainly wouldn't have the clout of the Amy Winehouse one.

Anna Reese would be better.

Hardly a drug-addicted, alcoholic talent.

Problem is with using someone famous and talented like that is, it all looks great and an enviable lifestyle until she drops dead.

That's the point, the lifestyle killed her!

Pop stars and footballers are the last people you want to use as role models for young impressionable people.

Many of them are so doped up on coke or plain stupid their managers wont let them speak in public.

Some people just will never get it.

hearing here sing = torture

and hearing her speak, WOT WOT, YU GOTTAH BEE KIDIN' ME AIGHT ?

The usual fatuous junk from you in response to a good, positive idea.

hearing here sing = torture

and hearing her speak, WOT WOT, YU GOTTAH BEE KIDIN' ME AIGHT ?

Such negativity in this forum. So the documentary not only warns the kids about drug abuse, but it also teaches English. Two birds with one stone!

While social workers hoped for goals may be laudable, I think JDs might take some other conclusion home with them. Trading a few years fame, glory and money for an early death might seem like a good deal, compared to what their outlooks probably are.

How is some Thai delinquent meant to relate to a junkie alcoholic singer from an entirely different culture who had the World at her feet before her spiral into chaos?

Maybe better to actually punish the likes of Chalerm's son, the Red Bull heir etc to the full extent of the Law for the crimes they committed and use their stories, as they languish in prison or are strapped to the gurney to cop for the lethal injection, as a warning to avert potential delinquency....

whos stupid idea was this? better to make a documentary showing young thais who have wasted their lives on Yabba. showing drugs associated with a glamorous famous person seems to be a mistake.

Naturally use a foreigner as a case study, I suppose there are no troubled Thai ' stars ' that could have been used !

Using a Thai might be more effective being relevant and easily identifiable but it would mean exposing something negative too close to home and that would never do.

+1...At least it's a first step.

Take them to a morgue and let them see the effects of drugs up close and personal

Maidee I suggest ear test - listen to Sarah Vaughan

London accent = beyond your capability to understand

Can Thai authorities leave well alone - she shouldn't be put on any pedestal

Majority of Thais young and old don't know her story and it goes far deeper than a talented singer resorting to alcohol and drugs

Don't be judgemental

Loneliness is rampant all over the world and is a symptom of people who are selfish, greedy and lacking any desire to help those in need

Just look at the streets of bangkok

JGV

hearing here sing = torture

and hearing her speak, WOT WOT, YU GOTTAH BEE KIDIN' ME AIGHT ?

Presumably you would find Etta James, one of Amy's main influences, painful to listen to too. I am always amazed by people's taste in music or lack of such.

Anyway as others have pointed out it would have been much more appropriate to find a Thai star whose name they can recognize, or wasn't there a Korean singer who topped himself a few years ago?

Problem is with using someone famous and talented like that is, it all looks great and an enviable lifestyle until she drops dead.

That's the point, the lifestyle killed her!

Clearly never been a drug user or all that close to one have you, lucky you. All of them to a man think they will buck the odds and the house will pay.

It's obviously a good idea to educate kids about the dangers of drink&drugs.

What a waste of talent,this girl could sing.Just goes to show that when the devil decides to take over he doesn't discriminate.

As far as I know, Amy never used yaba (methamphetamine) which seems to be the drug of choice in Thailand. There are plenty of more relevant videos circulating on the internet that might help Thais recognize the danger of drug addiction.

ok lets compare the stress of Thai life to Amy - yeah right....