What Happened, Miss Simone?
Like filmaker Liz Garbus, I listened and loved the fascinating music of Nina Simone (her raspy voice, piano skills, and fearless song choices) for years, but I have not had a chance to learn about her life. Fortunately, Garbus had done all the hard work to create a striking documentary on Ms. Simone. Garbus’s sources came from Ms. Simone’s own voice speaking about her own life, diaries, and performances. She also conducted interviews with the people who were closest to Ms. Simone including her abusive husband, long-time guitarist Al Schackman, and beautiful daughter Simone Kelly. What Happened, Miss Simone? is a masterpiece that sheds the light on her life, which filled with turbulence such as fame, violence, and racism, and how it shaped her music and personality. It’s a must-watch on NetFlix for fans of Ms. Simone.
The interview with Liz Garbus about the film is also worth a read.