The United States vs. Billie Holiday is a biographical film directed by Lee Daniels and written by Suzan-Lori Parks. The film is based on the book Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs by Johann Hari. It tells the story of jazz singer Billie Holiday (played by Andra Day) and her struggles with addiction, racism, and the federal government's efforts to silence her.
The film is set in the 1940s and 1950s when Holiday's career was at its peak, but she was also battling heroin addiction. The Federal Bureau of Narcotics, led by Harry J. Anslinger (played by Garrett Hedlund), targeted Holiday and launched an undercover sting operation to arrest her for drug possession. Anslinger was known for his racist views and his crusade to criminalize drugs, especially marijuana and heroin, which he associated with African Americans and jazz musicians.
The film also explores Holiday's romantic relationships, including her tumultuous affair with Jimmy Fletcher (played by Trevante Rhodes), a black undercover agent who infiltrated her inner circle and became her lover. Fletcher was torn between his loyalty to the government and his feelings for Holiday, who he admired and respected as an artist and a human being.
The United States vs. Billie Holiday features an ensemble cast of talented actors, including Natasha Lyonne, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Miss Lawrence, and Rob Morgan. The film blends drama, music, and politics to shed light on a dark chapter in American history and the legacy of a legendary singer who fought for her rights and her dignity until the end of her life.