Jazzy: A Heartwarming Tale of Friendship and Growing Up Without Regrets!

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In the heartwarming movie Jazzy, the young characters lament the idea of growing up because they foresee the responsibilities that come with adulthood – jobs, hard work, bosses to impress, or risk losing their employment and financial stability, even homelessness. They recognize the preciousness of their youthful years filled with wonder. This movie beautifully captures a poignant coming-of-age story about friendship, love, and maturity’s dawning realization.

Filmmaker Morrisa Maltz (from “The Unknown Country”) spent six years recording the childhoods of her goddaughter, Jasmine Bearkiller Shangreaux, often called Jazzy, and her close friend, Syriah Foohead Means, in South Dakota’s Oglala Lakota County, which houses the Pine Ridge reservation. The narrative, though largely fictional, could have occurred in any part of America. The girls, their families, friends, and school embody a strong sense of community. Their journey through adolescence mirrors the everyday aspirations and dreams of typical children navigating inevitable changes.

The Jazzy Joys of Youth

Initially, Maltz presents Jazzy at the age of six, extinguishing the candles on her birthday cake. She spends time outside her mobile home and sends up balloons into the clear, sky-blue expanse. This hopeful outlook seems to accompany Jazzy throughout her life. Notably, Maltz avoids infusing his story with unnecessary fear or gloom, which adds an appealing, infectious quality to the film. In other words, this movie steers clear of tragedy, making it all the more delightful.

Each morning, before I head off to school, I make it a point to meet up with Syriah, who resides in a nearby trailer. We stroll together to our shared school bus, where we’ll encounter the same group of kids day after day for the upcoming years. Their chatter about trivial topics will have you chuckling uncontrollably. They’re just kids, as innocent and carefree as they come, with issues that seldom linger beyond a few hours.

Maltz consistently views things from a child’s perspective. As adults are spoken to, they fade into the periphery and are comically observed only from their waist down. The children constantly gaze skyward due to being frequently addressed in a condescending manner, similar to the characters Charlie Brown, Sally, Linus, Lucy, and Schroeder in Peanuts who perceive their parents as an indistinct hum. This unique cinematographic approach evolves over time as the children grow, gradually coming up to adult eye level.

Time moves on, depicted by quick sequences of school days, playing at the community center, and glimpses into Jazzy’s household life. Her family welcomes a new sister, and they gift her a bunny. Jazzy remains cheerful, with Syriah always by her side. The duo have a blast at sleepovers, experimenting with makeup, and coming up with silly ideas. It comes to the point where they perform a “teddy bear brain surgery,” hoping the clever filling would make the less intelligent one more intelligent…of course!

A Friendship Split in Two

The affectionate bond between Jazzy and Syriah experiences an unexpected twist following the initial act. Instead of continuing their usual camaraderie, Syriah starts avoiding Jazzy, causing her pain. Their circle of friends can’t help but notice the chill in the air. It turns out that problems from the grown-up world are seeping into their young lives. Jazzy fails to comprehend how these issues could possibly impact their friendship. As more information surfaces, the divide becomes even more pronounced with a shocking revelation. Syriah is being relocated to live with her grandmother on the reservation.

Syriah finds it hard to adjust after her abrupt departure from Jazzy. Her heart aches even more when she doesn’t hear from Jazzy, making her think that she’s being deliberately left out. However, life often presents us with two contrasting sides.

Meanwhile, Syriah finds herself in a fresh setting. She is secure and well-cared for by her grandmother, but the change, especially the distance from Jazzy and everything comfortable, is disorienting. To shield herself from the pain of absence, she decides to keep away from Jazzy. Maltz excellently portrays these intense emotional scenes. The girls must now navigate their way independently, forging new journeys.

One Long Music Video Is Nonetheless Touching, Honest, and Beautiful

Jazzy soon understands that spending time with her schoolmates doesn’t magically fill the void left by Syriah. They shared a unique connection, a deep bond that wasn’t easily replaced. Jazzy, known for her sincere nature, attracts a secret admirer who has long admired her – Landon, a regular in the film as part of the school bus gang. Landon harbors feelings for Jazzy but is unsure how to express them. The boy and girl groups each providing their take on this blossoming romance makes for an engaging spectacle. Kudos to Maltz for maintaining a pure, heartfelt narrative untouched by social media drama or gossip. Will Landon win Jazzy’s heart? You’ll have to watch to discover the answer, but I assure you it’s quite captivating.

As a movie lover, I found Maltz’s cinematography captivating at first, but the hipster alternative rock and techno soundtrack grew increasingly grating. In some instances, the music complemented the scenes beautifully. However, at other times, it seemed as if Maltz was pressing too hard on the stylistic pedal, transforming the film into an extended music video with its close-ups, quick cuts, and all the trimmings. This approach may have been intended to symbolize puberty’s arrival and tonal shifts, but Jazzy and her mother already handled the delicate topic of growing up with finesse. The drum beats, bass lines, and whiny vocals, in my opinion, were unnecessary additions.

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2025-02-08 00:32