Jagged

Jagged is a 2021 music documentary focused on the life and career of renowned rock artist, Alanis Morissette. The film is directed by Alison Klayman and notably features interviews with Morissette, along with an array of other related personalities, including Nicola Gledhill and Lorraine Ali. Jagged takes a strikingly evocative and gauzy look into the life of Morissette, exploring her story from her early days as a child artist in Canada to her radical switch to the alternative rock scene, and the subsequent release of her groundbreaking album, “Jagged Little Pill.”

The title of the movie is a direct reference to Morissettte’s globally successful album, which is widely considered a significant turning point in her career. The film provides a personal and in-depth narrative of Alanis's journey through the music industry, particularly focusing on the years leading up to and following the release of "Jagged Little Pill." The movie touches on themes of fame, gender, creativity, and expectation—are painted with an intimate brush, and are critically revealed with unyielding truth and reflection.

In Jagged, Morissette delivers voice-over narration and extensive on-camera interviews, providing personal insights into her life and career. The film ensures that her candidness is central to the narrative, touching on issues such as harassment and the intense pressures of the music industry. Jagged highlights her spirited resolve, her will to push past the roadblocks that challenged her along the way, and her resilience to rise from the ashes—amplifying her strength and courage.

Director Alison Klayman has used her meticulous approach to blend the aspects of the musician's life and career in a storytelling manner. Full of admirable honesty, the narrative touches on more significant issues of the music industry and explores how it treats its stars, particularly its female stars. Klayman helps uncover the struggles Morissette faced during her early career and brings attention to her groundbreaking music that addressed these struggles in a raw and open manner.

The film includes some memorable live performances of Alanis's greatest hits, giving us snippets of why and how she became one of the leading alternative rock figures in the music industry. Yet, it's in the quieter, more personal moments where Jagged shines—a reminiscing Morissette, an old recording session, a stroll down memory lane through weathered photographs—where you truly understand the woman beneath the star persona.

The contribution of Nicola Gledhill and music critic Lorraine Ali adds a new layer of depth to the documentary as well. While one provides insights into the back-end technical aspects of music creation, the other delves into the societal implications of Alanis’s music in the context of the time. Their inputs create a balance of perspectives that elevates the documentary to more than just a retold biography – it is an informed examination of the artist, the music, and their impact on society.

The beating heart of Jagged, as undeniably expected, is Morissette herself. Her open narration and insightful interviews provide a personal perspective, constantly highlighting her inherent charisma. Through conversation and reflection, compromise, and reclamation, Alanis Morissette unravels her highs and lows, her triumphs, and her challenges, culminating in a truly moving documentary about a significant figure in rock music.

The movie ends on an optimistic note, a testament to Alanis Morissette's journey and growth as an artist, hinting at a continued path into future projects and betraying a woman who is ever-evolving, refusing to be pinned down. Jagged is very much a must-watch for not only fans of Alanis Morissette but also those interested in the music industry, the stories behind the songs, and the journey of an extraordinary singer-songwriter navigating the complex realm of fame, expectation, creativity, and resilience.

Crafted in a manner true to the raw honesty of Morissette’s music, Jagged doesn’t hold back. It’s a journey symbolic of the human spirit, a journey taken over the jagged edges of life – as told by Morissettte herself.