"As I got older, I started to look at her and I thought to myself, 'Wow, she's from another time!' But she was not at odds with the time. Time was at odds with her. I think when a person moves to their own kind of clock, spirit, flow .... if we were living in an environment that allowed us to be exactly who we are, you're always in congress with yourself. The challenge is, how do we fit in in the world that we're around? Are we allowed to be exactly who we are? Was Nina Simone allowed to be exactly who she was? As fragile as she was strong, as vulnerable as she was dynamic, she was African royalty. How does royalty stomp around in the mud and still walk with grace? Most people are afraid to be as honest as she lived." -- Ambassador Shabazz
A documentary that gives a fairly complete picture of Nina Simone's life, covering a fascinating woman who was a piano prodigy, brilliant musician, abused wife, civil rights activist, and someone who struggled with mental health issues. I love how it didn't shy away from her pretty radical political positions or the painful realities of her personal life, while at the same time, let us see her perform, showing her musical genius and stage presence. I felt real power in songs like "Mississippi Goddam," and felt Simone's place in the history of a struggle which persists to this day. I think she's appreciated, but at the same time, somewhat underrated, either because of her appearance or her outspoken views, and the film might help rectify this.
At the same time, I thought it fell a little short in not staying just a teeny bit longer on her triumphant music in the mid-1960's, e.g. from albums like "I Put a Spell on You" (1965), moving too quickly to her breakdown and withdrawal for my taste (and then spending too long there). To not play songs like "Take Care of Business" or "Break Down and Let It All Out" at all (naming just a couple), and to talk over most of "Love Me or Leave Me," but to show extended clips of her later (often awkward) performances instead I think did her a disservice. Maybe it needed to be longer, or have its focus tuned a bit. Also, I didn't like how her husband, a guy who often beat the hell out of her, was allowed so much time via an old interview clip. Overall I liked watching it though, and adore this artist.
A documentary that gives a fairly complete picture of Nina Simone's life, covering a fascinating woman who was a piano prodigy, brilliant musician, abused wife, civil rights activist, and someone who struggled with mental health issues. I love how it didn't shy away from her pretty radical political positions or the painful realities of her personal life, while at the same time, let us see her perform, showing her musical genius and stage presence. I felt real power in songs like "Mississippi Goddam," and felt Simone's place in the history of a struggle which persists to this day. I think she's appreciated, but at the same time, somewhat underrated, either because of her appearance or her outspoken views, and the film might help rectify this.
At the same time, I thought it fell a little short in not staying just a teeny bit longer on her triumphant music in the mid-1960's, e.g. from albums like "I Put a Spell on You" (1965), moving too quickly to her breakdown and withdrawal for my taste (and then spending too long there). To not play songs like "Take Care of Business" or "Break Down and Let It All Out" at all (naming just a couple), and to talk over most of "Love Me or Leave Me," but to show extended clips of her later (often awkward) performances instead I think did her a disservice. Maybe it needed to be longer, or have its focus tuned a bit. Also, I didn't like how her husband, a guy who often beat the hell out of her, was allowed so much time via an old interview clip. Overall I liked watching it though, and adore this artist.