About What Happened, Miss Simone?

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• About
• Making / Production
• Actors
• Trivia / Interesting Facts
• Awards
• Quotes
• Music
• Soundtrack

About

"What Happened, Miss Simone?" is a 2015 documentary film directed by Liz Garbus. It follows the life and career of singer and civil rights activist Nina Simone. The film features rare archival footage, interviews with Simone's family and friends, and excerpts from her personal diaries.

The documentary explores Simone's troubled personal life, including her turbulent relationships and struggles with mental illness. It also delves into her musical career, from her early success as a jazz musician to her later work in the civil rights movement.

Making / Production

"What Happened, Miss Simone?" was produced by Netflix and RadicalMedia. The documentary was based on a collection of archival footage and interviews collected over several years. Director Liz Garbus worked closely with Simone's family and estate to ensure accuracy and authenticity in portraying her life and legacy.

Actors

• Nina Simone - portrayed by herself through archival footage
• Interviews with Simone's family and friends

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The film's title comes from a Maya Angelou quote, where she asks Nina Simone, "What happened, Miss Simone? Specifically, what happened to your big eyes that quickly veil to hide the loneliness?"
• The documentary features never-before-seen footage of Simone's performances and personal life.
• Simone's music continues to inspire and influence artists across various genres.

Awards

"What Happened, Miss Simone?" received several awards and nominations, including:

• Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature
• Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program

Quotes

• "I'll tell you what freedom is to me: no fear." - Nina Simone
• "An artist’s duty, as far as I’m concerned, is to reflect the times." - Nina Simone

Music

The documentary features several of Nina Simone's iconic songs, including:

• "Feeling Good"
• "I Put a Spell on You"
• "Four Women"

Soundtrack

The official soundtrack of "What Happened, Miss Simone?" was released in 2015 and includes the following songs:

• "I Loves You, Porgy"
• "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood"
• "Sinnerman"
• "To Be Young, Gifted and Black"