What Happened, Miss Simone? Documentary of a Genius

I had nothing but a passing familiarity with the music of Nina Simone. Her cover of Mr. Bojangles is something I listen to with much love, but I can't pretend I knew anything more about her music or her life. Thankfully, Netflix has remedied that situation with their release of the documentary, What Happened, Miss Simone?

Using archival footage and recordings, this documentary pieces together the life story of a simply extraordinary musician and activist. Born in 1933 as Eunice Waymon in a poor black family in North Carolina, Simone was introduced to the piano at the age of three. Her mother was a preacher who would take her to revival meetings, and her musical talent was spotted by two white women who decided to give her proper piano lessons. The plan was to make her the first black female classical pianist, a plan that was derailed once she was denied admission into a prestigious music program, presumably due to racial grounds. Desperate to make money to support her family, she changed her name to Nina Simone and started playing piano at bars and night clubs. When told she could earn a lot more money if she sang, she started singing too, and that's when the world was introduced to that rich, intoxicating voice.

It's a classic rags-to-riches tale, but since this is real life, there is no happy ending. While Simone's early career seemed charmed, problems quickly arose. Her supportive husband turned out to be jealous and abusive. Her moods got increasingly volatile and she suffered bouts of depression or anger that would derail performances. In the 60s, she got caught up in the civil rights movement, befriending Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, Lorraine Hansberry, and the other intellectuals and philosophers who were fighting so hard for the rights of their fellow man. At this point, she composed overtly political songs, drawing from her own experience and the deep knowledge of her peers to sing about the injustices facing African Americans. While this gave her tremendous purpose, it did not bring her happiness, and as her friends were killed over the course of their struggles, she increasingly lost her way. Her political leanings meant that she was no longer able to book concerts, radio stations blacklisted her records, and she suffered a mighty fall from grace.

Director Liz Garbus has created an impeccable documentary that delves right inside the heart and mind of its subject and tells her story through her own words. While there are interviews with friends and family, the movie is most powerful when you're listening to or watching Simone describe her own thoughts and the things that drove her to make her music. Her passion and brilliance leap off the screen, and while she battled many personal and professional demons, there is no doubt that this woman was a genius. The movie uses her songs as the backdrop for every scene, that powerful voice and incredible piano-playing setting the soundtrack for her extraordinary life.

What Happened, Miss Simone? is not a fawning tale but a no-holds-barred look at what made this woman tick. Her passion for music and activism was both a blessing and a curse but she was able to give so much to the world. If you are a fan of Nina Simone, you absolutely have to watch this documentary to gain a deeper appreciation of her talent. If you've never heard of Nina Simone, you absolutely have to watch this documentary so you can become a fan and appreciate the passion and artistry that make her music relevant decades later.