Morrisa Maltz first brought attention to herself with her directorial debut, The Unknown Country, an intimate road movie that showcased her talent for tapping into raw human emotions. Her latest film Jazzy continues exploring personal stories from a distinct perspective, this time honing in on a young girl’s formative years.
Jazzy centers around a Lakota child named Jasmine “Jazzy” Bearkiller Shangreaux, whom Maltz has known since birth as her goddaughter. Growing up in South Dakota, Jazzy experiences the wonders and troubles of childhood alongside her closest friend Syriah. Spanning from ages six to twelve, the film immerses viewers in Jazzy’s world through snapshots of her childhood reflected through real and revealing moments.
What makes Jazzy resonant is how Maltz succeeds in quietly but powerfully portraying the joys and pains of this life stage. By prioritizing observation over exposition and casting the film’s young stars Jasmine Shangreaux and Syriah Fool Head Means as authentic versions of themselves, a touching verisimilitude is achieved.
The small daily interactions the girls have, from playing together to having their first disputes, resonate with truthful emotion. In crafting the film this way, Maltz provides a poignant glimpse into the reality of living as a child.
Childhood Friends
Jazzy explores the highs and lows of growing up through the lens of two young friends. We meet protagonist Jasmine “Jazzy” Bearkiller Shangreaux at age six as she joyfully experiences the early joys of childhood. Her constant companion is Syriah Fool Head Means, whose easygoing yet steadfast presence balances Jazzy’s animated energy.
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The bond between Jazzy and Syriah runs deep. They share everything from giggles on the school bus to heartfelt conversations about life’s big questions. Whether on adventures in the woods or making each other laugh with silly jokes, their uncomplicated intimacy comes through as the beating heart of the story.
But change is looming on the horizon. As Jazzy and Syriah enter their preteen years, cracks start to emerge in their friendship. We see the first signs of emotional growing pains as Jazzy occasionally favors including other girls, risking Syriah’s feelings. Tensions escalate when a fight between their mothers forces a rift between the once inseparable pair.
The impact of Syriah suddenly shunning Jazzy absolutely devastates her. Without warning, her lifelong friend and companion walks past without acknowledgement. Jazzy is left shaken, lashing out in anguished confusion. What’s more, Syriah’s family faces relocating, ending their partnership for good.
Amid this hardship, Jazzy finds support from other characters. Her playful younger sister provides comic relief, while an amusing new friend Landon’s clumsy attempts at romance offer lighter moments. Meanwhile, Jazzy’s aunt lends a compassionate ear during troubled times.
Through it all, Maltz’s camera remains focused on Jazzy’s journey. We witness her rocky path from carefree youth to a young girl confronting life’s capacity for both connection and loneliness. Her evolving story reminds us that while friendship’s meaning may change with time, its power remains to guide our way.
Capturing Childhood
Morrisa Maltz brings a very unique directorial style to Jazzy that puts you right in the world of its young protagonist. Cinematographer Andrew Hajek deserves huge credit for crafting images that feel so alive. He makes great use of the widescreen format, pulling you into the natural vistas that surround Jazzy. There’s also an energetic fluidity to his handheld work, giving interactions between the kids an exciting spontaneity.
A big part of what makes Maltz’s approach so effective is her decision to keep the adults largely out of frame. We experience the story entirely from the kids’ perspectives. It puts the focus squarely on Jazzy and Syriah, crafting an intimate look at their daily lives. While we may hear parental voices occasionally, the grownups stay tantalizingly just out of view. This choice reinforces that Jazzy is the one guiding us through her experiences.
The whole production has an observational, almost documentary-like quality. Maltz prefers showing to telling, letting quiet moments unfold without narration. She creates a real sense of just flowing with her characters from one day to the next. Whether they’re giggling on the bus or facing life’s bigger challenges, we feel right there alongside them.
This loose, freeflowing approach is very fitting for the film’s themes. It transports us back to that time of life when every day feels wide open. We’re reminded what it’s like to experience the world through the wide-eyed wonder of a child. Jazzy sees magic in simple things, from playing with friends to contemplating what growing up might hold. Maltz makes us see with that same sense of possibility and discovery. Her unconventional style is perfectly aligned to capturing the nostalgia of reflecting on happier, more innocent years.
Living Their Truth
A big part of what makes Jazzy Ring so true is how much it reflects the real lives of its young stars. Morrisa Maltz crafted the story with substantial input from Jasmine “Jazzy” Shangreaux and Syriah Fool Head Means. They had a direct hand in shaping their characters and sharing their experiences growing up on the reservation. It’s easy to see their personalities and senses of humor come through naturally. With Jazzy essentially playing a version of herself, she delivers one of the most authentic lead performances you’ll find.
Stepping into the role feels totally seamless for Jasmine. Her effortless charm and the genuine bonds she forms with Syriah and the other kids make every scene a joy. You really feel like you’re witnessing their real dynamic rather than watching actors recite lines. Syriah matches Jasmine’s liveliness and brings lovely nuance to her character’s quieter moments too. Together, their chemistry carries the heart of the film.
It’s also impressive that Maltz captured over six years of changes in Jasmine and Syriah on screen. Watching them grow and mature from carefree children to reflective pre-teens feels richly rewarding. Their grounded performances anchor the film’s reflective tone. Even smaller roles inhabited by kids from the community add authentic texture.
Of course, a familiar face appears to bring gravitas. Lily Gladstone shines as ever in her supportive role. She represents an adult presence the girls feel comfortable opening up to. Her commitment to projects like this that honor indigenous voices makes her perfect to serve as executive producer too.
Ultimately, the naturalism of Jasmine and Syriah’s performances heightens the atmospheric storytelling. Because their characters feel so richly lived-in, we fully embrace Maltz’s observant direction. We experience Jazzy’s world just as she does—through play, friendship struggles, and probing life’s bigger questions. It’s a triumph in using authenticity to enlighten rather than exploit.
Looking Within
Jazzy explores deeply human themes that touch all of us, yet it finds refreshing nuance in its specific cultural lens. At its core, the film is about the bonds of friendship changing as young people grow into new phases of life. It chronicles the innate joys and pains of this process with profound empathy.
We’ve all experienced the comfort of longtime friends, trusting another knows us so well. Jazzy and Syriah have shared this unshakable closeness for years. But life brings new layers that shift even the deepest friendships. Their diverging paths see trust waver and hearts broken as misunderstandings replace openness. In showing how quickly childhood constancy can crumble, these moments resonate with a sad wisdom.
Maltz finds poetry in life’s smallest instants too. A birthday party’s glee or recess play needs no grand set pieces to enthrall. We see our own youthful faces in characters living fully in each moment, unaware that darkness also shapes their days. One scene perfectly strips bare the raw panic when solace is refused without reason. Its cruelty stems not from action but from how effectively it seizes the security once taken for granted.
Yet Jazzy avoids preaching change as fate beyond control. Its title suggests observing change’s process inwardly helps navigate its turbulence outwardly. As barriers rise suddenly between Jazzy and Syriah, glimmers of hope endure that understanding and forgiveness may remedy even ruptures seeming total. If growth means loss, the film reinforces that loss need not mean the end of what truly matters.
Through it all, Jazzy’s cultural grounding gifts perspective on life’s shared struggles. For all universal human experience, First Nations people especially face erasure and forced assimilation disrupting traditions. The film centers indigenous joy, heartbreak, and dignity with care, honor, and beauty. In representing experiences too often ignored, it reminds of life’s depth in communities too long denied full identity and place.
Jazzy is a poignant look at how we weather change together and apart. But more than observe growth’s passage, the film vividly brings its emotional landscape to life. Its poetic style dwells in moments transcending time to reflect how finding meaning within ourselves and each other can redeem even life’s harshest transitions.
Treasured Moments
Jazzy proves to be a film that stays with you long after the end credits roll. While some dismiss it as lacking dramatic tension, Maltz creates something far more profound. She presents a poignant glimpse into the joys, pains, and grace of childhood through her artistic vision.
Rather than flashy filmmaking stunts, Maltz opts for subtlety. Her technical achievements arise from close observation of authentic performances and intimate moments. Young Jasmine and Syriah feel utterly real, and their friendship is deeply touching. Thoughtful cinematography and score further immerse us in their world.
The film stays with the viewer not through bombast but resonance. It lingers in scattered memories that feel treasured for showing life’s fragility. In quiet ways, Jazzy conveys powerful truths on friendships shaping our lives and the inevitability of change. It honors small yet pivotal periods many forget, like childhood’s fleeting comforts.
While leaving some story arcs understated, Jazzy culminates in a poetic finale cementing its impact. Farewell scenes sting with earned emotion from time spent with their characters. Even after leaving the theater, this subtle yet profound work continues blossoming anew in the heart. Jazzy is a movie that reminds us to cherish every moment as a gift, especially those of innocence that profoundly shape our lives.
The Review
Jazzy
While not flawless, Jazzy offers a tender, poignant portrait of childhood that will linger with viewers. Director Morrisa Maltz succeeds above all in crafting fully realized young characters and authentically portraying the small yet magically impactful moments of their formative years. With beautiful cinematography and natural performances, Jazzy reminds us to cherish life's fleeting beauty through the eyes of its remarkable young stars.
PROS
- Authentic, heartfelt performances from the young leads
- Evocative cinematography that immerses the viewer
- Poignant exploration of the themes of friendship, growth, and change
- Subtle yet emotionally powerful storytelling
CONS
- Minimal plot-driven drama or conflict at times
- Some lightly drawn supporting characters
- Pacing is quite slow and impressionistic.
