This year has already positioned itself as a banner year for music cinema. This month has seen the celebrated releases of Eden, a love letter to the 90s Parisian electronic scene, and Love & Mercy, the idiosyncratic biopic of The Beach Boys’ brainchild Brian Wilson, to glowing reviews. Brett Morgan’s chaotic Kurt Cobain documentary, Montage of Heck, revolutionized the structure of the rock-doc for a what may be the most personal peep into a musician’s life this decade, while the upcoming self-titled Amy Winehouse documentary, Amy, won over the likes of Cannes and critics thereafter as well. Debuting nationwide this week after its Sundance premiere alongside Montage of Heck, is What Happened, Miss Simone?, a documentary that follows the rise of “the high priestess of soul,” Nina Simone.

What Happened, Miss Simone? is a very traditional documentary about the most un-traditional of musical artists. In an era of unconvention in documentary film making, Simone’s story is told in familiar fashion. The visual fabric of the narrative is predominantly archival–black & white performance footage and photography, radio interviews with Simone herself, etc.–which gives the film a very classic aesthetic. Simone’s story unravels like a VH1 Classic special, from her humble Carolina beginnings singing in her church, through her early jazz club days into her stern civil rights activism in the 1960s. There may be a little too much “Behind the Music,” however.

Much like the title suggests, she presents her subject as a cautionary icon, an over-advocate whose own anger became a threat to her own wellness. It’s a cautionary tale for our own era of advocacy that reigns in this new century, though also a portrait of an artist we rarely see any longer in popular music.

Director Liz Fischer chooses to spend the heftiest portion of the film on Simone’s political aggression, yet shies away from outright anointing her. Much like the title suggests, she presents her subject as a cautionary icon, an over-advocate whose own anger became a threat to her own wellness. It’s a cautionary tale for our own era of advocacy that reigns in this new century, though also a portrait of an artist we rarely see any longer in popular music–a pop artist innovating whilst making grand political statements. However, What Happened, Miss Simone? would stand out if it featured just that: more of Simone’s music.

To Fischer and her editing team’s credit, they have a keen sense of knowing to not cut from Simone’s performance footage swiftly. The film’s best moments are these extended single takes that let Simone’s undeniable presence on stage breathe and come to life. It is in these moments, the documentary is magnetic–it really does bring Simone back to life. Coupled with the extensive, well-restored interview audio of Simone herself, What Happened, Miss Simone? gives the chanteuse a voice again. And that is something that we need, especially in this second wave of activism.

What Happened, Miss Simone? will premiere exclusively on Netflix and opens theatrically in LA at Laemmle’s Music Hall 3 Friday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moOQXZxriKY