The story of chart-topping chanteuse and Black Power icon Nina Simone is explored in Director Liz Garbus’ stirring documentary
What Happened, Miss Simone?
Garbus’ film sheds light on the life of the classically-trained musical genius who became one of the most influential, beloved, provocative and least understood artists of her time, earning the nickname “the High Priestess of Soul.” Utilizing never-before-heard tapes, rare archival footage, and interviews with close friends and family, the film seeks to show how Simone –– known for her rapturous performances on stage –– struggled to reconcile her artistic ambitions with her fierce commitment to the emerging civil rights movement, and the ultimate price she paid for that devotion. What Happened, Miss Simone? is currently available on Netflix.
Garbus gave a brief introduction to the film before the DGA Special Projects Committee’s Documentary Series screening in Los Angeles on June 25.
Garbus has directed more than a dozen documentaries including Girlhood, The Nazi Officer's Wife, Different Moms, and The Execution of Wanda Jean. In 1999 she and Jonathan Stack earned an Academy Award nomination for “Best Documentary, Features” for their film The Farm: Angola, USA. She has been a DGA member since 2013.