"What Happened, Miss Simone?" is a 2015 American biographical documentary film about Nina Simone directed by Liz Garbus. The documentary chronicles the life of American singer Nina Simone, who became a civil rights activist and moved to Liberia following the turbulence of the 1960s. The film uses never-before-heard recordings, rare archival footage, and her best-known songs to tell the story of the legendary singer and activist.
The documentary also sheds light on Simones personal life, including the fact that her husband/manager hit her on a regular basis. In the 1970s, her mental disorders completely took over, and she almost faded into homelessness. The title of the film was taken from a Maya Angelou quote.
The film was released by Netflix on June 26, 2015, and was nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 88th Academy Awards. It received positive reviews, with an approval rating of 90% based on 51 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.
