What Happened, Miss Simone?

What Happened, Miss Simone? is a 2015 biographical documentary film about the life of iconic American singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger, and civil rights activist Nina Simone (1933-2003). Directed by Liz Garbus, the movie provides a comprehensive exploration of the renowned singer’s career and her fierce dedication to civil rights activism. The film features Nina Simone herself in performance footage, archival footage, and interviews, as well as commentary from her close associates, friends, and family, including her daughter Lisa Simone Kelly and long-time friend and collaborator Roger Nupie.

The film uses Simone’s musical journey to delve into her life’s story which was characterized by significant triumphs, personal turmoil, political passion, and bold resilience. The title “What Happened, Miss Simone?” is drawn from an essay by Maya Angelou, pointing to the complex, often enigmatic nature of Simone’s public and private life.

What Happened, Miss Simone? immerses its audience in Simone’s artistic universe from the start. Traversing through the diverse genres she embraced from classical music, blues, jazz, to soul; the film captures Simone’s profound influence in shaping significant music eras. Her singular style captured the spirit and mood of the times she lived in, evident through concert footage and Simone's recorded music threaded throughout the narrative.

Beyond her music, the documentary also focuses on Simone’s commitment to the struggle for racial justice during the fraught decades of the Civil Rights Movement. The fervor and ferocity with which she used her art form as a political tool are well chronicled in the film. Pieces such as “Mississippi Goddam” and other protest anthems became rallying cries for Black Americans during the tumultuous 1960s.

Simultaneously, What Happened, Miss Simone? does not skirt around the multifaceted nature of Simone’s story. Her tempestuous relationship with her husband and manager, Andrew Stroud, features prominently, as does Simone’s struggle with mental health issues. The film painstakingly addresses her bipolar disorder diagnoses, bringing light to the impact it had on her personal relationships and career.

Frequent correspondence and journal entries from Simone are used as a narration device to help frame the documentary and provide a personal perspective. The letters express her personal ambitions, conflicts, and deepest sentiments of restlessness and longing for peace. One of the most potent parts of the film lies in this intimate look into Simone's psyche.

The spotlight also includes perspective from Simone’s daughter, Lisa Simone Kelly, who offers an additional lens into the experiences and eccentricities of her famed mother. Her reflective stories and recollections of her mother provide layers of depth and complexity to the narrative. Long-time friend, Roger Nupie also provides perspective, painting a nuanced image of the jazz legend.

Several interviews featured in the film paint a vivid portrait of Simone's character. The documentary transparently portrays her as a passionate and assertive woman, deeply committed to her art and her people, but also uncompromising, mercurial, and intense.

Director Liz Garbus has crafted a compelling narrative engaging in robust storytelling techniques to stitch seamless connections between areas of Simone’s life. It connects Simone’s childhood in North Carolina, where she was a piano prodigy named Eunice Waymon, her breakthrough in the 1950s New York City jazz scene, her rise to superstardom, and her later years in self-imposed exile in Liberia and then France, where she passed away in 2003. However, it leaves some aspects of Simone’s life and her evolution unexplored, which adds layers of mystery and intrigue to her persona.

What Happened, Miss Simone? is a moving story about a volatile genius, an ardent activist, and a singularly unique musician. The film is as eclectic, complicated, and unforgettable as its eponymous heroine, delivering a profound tribute to Simone’s incredible legacy.

Whether you're a die-hard fan of Nina Simone or are encountering her for the first time, this documentary will leave you amazed by her talent, moved by her passion, and wanting to know more about Miss Simone. This is a thought-provoking exploration of art and activism, struggle, and resilience. It is a stark reminder of Simone's unwavering quest for freedom, equal rights, and her own unforgettable voice that stands testament to her place in history.