What Happened, Miss Simone?

Name: What Happened, Miss Simone?
Genre: Documentary
Released: June 24, 2015
Duration: 101 min
Rating: 75

2015

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Generally favorable reviews based on 12 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 35 Ratings

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7.9

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7.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 35 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Netflix | Release Date: June 24, 2015 | Not Rated

Summary: A classically trained musical genius, chart-topping chanteuse, and Black Power icon, Nina Simone is one of the most influential, beloved, provocative, and least understood artists of our time. On stage, she was known for utterly free, rapturous performances, earning her the epithet "High Priestess of Soul." But amid the violent, day-to-dayA classically trained musical genius, chart-topping chanteuse, and Black Power icon, Nina Simone is one of the most influential, beloved, provocative, and least understood artists of our time. On stage, she was known for utterly free, rapturous performances, earning her the epithet "High Priestess of Soul." But amid the violent, day-to-day fight for civil rights, she struggled to reconcile artistic ambition with her fierce devotion to a movement. … Expand

Director: Liz Garbus

Genre(s): Documentary

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 101 min

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Critic Reviews

Leah Greenblatt

Jun 24, 2015

An excellently clear-eyed primer on the woman whose talent carried her from an impoverished childhood in Tryon, N.C., to the world’s most rarefied stages—and whose political defiance nearly ended her career. Read full review

Alan Scherstuhl

Jun 25, 2015

Garbus's film is a portrait of a soul torn apart by forces beyond it and within it. Read full review

Kenneth Turan

Jun 25, 2015

[An] impressive and deeply felt documentary. Read full review

Daniel Fienberg

Jan 31, 2015

When Garbus lets Simone show us why she's special What Happened, Miss Simone? is successful and vital. Read full review

IndieWire Anisha Jhaveri

Jan 31, 2015

Away from the confessions that induce shock and the divulgences that elicit sympathy, Garbus leaves ample space for lengthy sequences of Simone's performances. Read full review

Manohla Dargis

Jun 24, 2015

An often electric, bracingly urgent documentary. Read full review

Clayton Dillard

Jun 20, 2015

It utilizes Maya Angelou's claim as tantalizing bait rather than the starting point for a feature-length thesis statement. Read full review

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User Reviews

Indiefilmlover

Jun 26, 2015

An intimidate portrait of the enigmatic Nina Simone. Utilizing rare interviews, entries from her diaries and recollections from people who knew her, this film goes about as close as one can expect to reveal the essence of Nina Simone. Whether or not you're a fan of her work, "What Happened,An intimidate portrait of the enigmatic Nina Simone. Utilizing rare interviews, entries from her diaries and recollections from people who knew her, this film goes about as close as one can expect to reveal the essence of Nina Simone. Whether or not you're a fan of her work, "What Happened, Miss Simone?" is a fascinating character study.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

katezoe

Jul 12, 2015

Amazing documentary! Nina Simone is a one in a life time artist, genius who was born a head of her time. I was riveted watching the film from beginning to end.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

LowbrowCinema

Jun 27, 2015

WHAT HAPPENED, MISS SIMONE? is that rare documentary which manages to be both personal and political. In fact, it is that rare film that examines the full complexity of a human being and the times they live in. Filmmaker Liz Garbus, like her subject Nina Simone, understands the complexity ofWHAT HAPPENED, MISS SIMONE? is that rare documentary which manages to be both personal and political. In fact, it is that rare film that examines the full complexity of a human being and the times they live in. Filmmaker Liz Garbus, like her subject Nina Simone, understands the complexity of human experience and a society where the personal is political, and the political very personal. Every time the film heads in one direction or feels like other films you've seen, it veers off in totally different ways perfectly encapsulating a very complex life. If you thought you knew Nina Simone, you didn't until WHAT HAPPENED, MISS SIMONE? One more extraordinary music doc in 2015.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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