Nina Simone: What Happened Miss Simone?

Nina Simone: What Happened, Miss Simone is a beautifully crafted documentary that pays homage to the immense talent and often turbulent life of a legendary singer, songwriter, pianist, and civil rights activist, Eunice Kathleen Waymon, best known to the world as Nina Simone. Directed by Liz Garbus, an Academy Award nominee, the film offers an intimate look into Nina's life and career, exploring the adversities she faced, her struggles with mental health, and her lifelong commitment to political activism. Through a powerful mix of haunting archival footage and candid interviews, the film lays bare the beautiful heartache that was Nina Simone.

This Netflix original is structured as a chronological exploration of Simone's journey, beginning with her early life in North Carolina, where she displayed prodigious musical talent. It follows her move to New York City, where she gained prominence in the 1950s and '60s, and traces her rising success as a singer, along with the complications that success brought. Nina’s life was marked not only by groundbreaking achievements but also by personal and political struggles that shaped not just her music but also her identity.

In dealing with the narrative of Nina's life, the film fleshes out the character behind the music, revealing a woman who blurred the lines between music and activism, deftly using her voice to challenge racial inequality in America during the civil rights movement. The documentary vividly portrays her as a fearless and passionate artist who never shied away from speaking out against racial injustice, a trait that often left her at odds with a society where racial tensions were rife.

The film illuminally delves into Nina's personal life, providing a raw and unfiltered glimpse into her turbulent relationships, her fierce battle with bipolar disorder, and the toll that her political activism took on her career and personal life. Nina Simone: What Happened, Miss Simone does not shy away from these harder aspects of her life, instead, it merges them into the narrative as brutal but necessary realities that defined her life and fuelled her art.

A large part of the story is told through interviews with key figures in Simone's life, including her daughter Lisa Simone Kelly, who also served as the film's executive producer. Lisa's frank and riveting accounts along with the testimonies of close friends, family, and band members, inject a deeply personal touch, allowing viewers to understand the behind-the-scenes reality of Nina's life.

Garbus includes a wealth of concert and backstage footage, offering the viewer an opportunity to witness Nina's remarkable performances. The footage serves as a powerful reminder of her prodigious talent and musical versatility, with scintillating performances of classics like 'I Loves You Porgy,' 'Mississippi Goddam,' 'Sinnerman,' and 'My Baby Just Cares For Me.' One standout feature of the movie is the archival footage, some never before seen, drawn from the years. This includes private videos, diary entries read out by Simone herself, and letters, all painting a presentation full of nuance and depth.

Interwoven throughout the documentary is Nina’s music, a character in its own right, painting a vivid soundscape that ranges from blues to jazz, classical, and folk. Her distinctive, sultry voice rings out against a backdrop of extraordinary social upheaval and personal challenge, putting voice to her joys and sorrows, dreams and disappointments, making the music segments of the documentary a compelling watch.

Garbus masterfully creates a complex and nuanced portrait of a woman who was as admired for her artistic genius as she was criticised for her political views and personal struggles. It is unflinching in its exploration of the price Nina paid for her brilliance and her boldness.

Neither a blind adoration nor a crude takedown, Nina Simone: What Happened, Miss Simone effectively honours Nina Simone's legacy while offering a clear-eyed assessment of the difficult and poignant realities that marked her life. This is not only a film for fans of Simone's music but also for those interested in witnessing the strength, struggle, and resilience of a woman who used her musical talents to amplify her voice against social injustice.

In Nina Simone: What Happened, Miss Simone, Simone's life unfolds like a tragic symphony with tremendous highs and punishing lows. Despite the hardships and struggles faced by this legendary artist, one thing is clear: the electrifying, vibrant talent of a woman who was a musical icon, a civil rights activist, and a daring individual who refused to be boxed by the demands of society.

Characterized by its authenticity, depth, and stirring performances, Nina Simone: What Happened, Miss Simone stands as a riveting take on an extraordinary life, leaving behind a poignant echo of Nina's untamed spirit, and an invigorating celebration of her immense contribution to the world of music and activism.