To those who have loved Sean Baker’s The Florida Project, Jazzy might be perceived as a milder play on the same notes. Morrisa Maltz’s Jazzy reveals a genial narrative pleasure in the accompanying ecstasy and the pangs of distress in preadolescence and adolescence. This age is marked by conflicting emotions, burgeoning mannerisms, and uninhibited living. The film vigorously examines the noise that is part and parcel of traversing this part of one’s life. With the specificity of her detailing and the acuteness of her observations on childhood, Maltz sheds light on the vagaries of a profound period in a girl’s life. To add to this, Jazzy is a companion piece to Maltz’s The Unknown Country, where Lily Gladstone’s Tana undertakes a journey to connect with her Oglala Lakota roots.
Spoilers Ahead
What do we learn about Jazzy’s life?
In Spearfish, South Dakota, Jazzy grows up as an exuberant girl on the cusp of teenagehood. While the days roll past with her playing in the dirt, talking about Netflix, and emulating adult talks, the perils of shifting friendships prove to be as prickly as a thistle. We see Jazzy send an ‘unfriending note’ to her friend, Grace, and form a bond with Syriah. Jazzy and her friends are born into the digital age. Part of their conversation also takes place through their smartphones. There is also an imminent dread that hovers tantalizingly over the children; the threat of assuming adult responsibilities soon. What adds to the humor is the constant battle of the boys over the number of girls they have asked out. The irony lies in the tension of their voice when they proclaim they have not made much progress till now.
As we are welcomed into Jazzy’s world, we are constantly compelled to take a look inwards and determine how many of the early concerns of Jazzy still resonate with us. Jazzy is left heartbroken by her former friend, Grace, so she sends her the note to return the favor. Later, we see her confess to Syriah how she felt neglected while Grace prioritized others over her. Syriah expresses her anxiety over any such similar occurrence taking place in their friendship, but then again, she stops talking to Jazzy soon after. This points to the ephemerality and the unpredictability of the bonds of early life.
How does Jazzy deal with her heartbreak?
Shortly after they start talking, Jazzy has to face yet another heartbreak. Syriah has to move out of the neighborhood. There is no way Jazzy can stop her, as we see her desperately running after the car but to no avail. Following Syriah’s departure, Jazzy cocoons herself. However, Jazzy emerges successfully from one of the most difficult places to be, emotionally. She forms new friendships which help her grieve and enjoy life. There is a girl called Golden with whom Jazzy forms an instant affinity. However, Golden’s life as an upper-class White girl is far removed from the humble roots of Jazzy. It is not too long before she longs for Syriah again, who is perhaps the only one who shares her roots. We figure out from Jazzy’s mother that her Grandpa, August, is also a relative of Syriah. Jazzy’s eyes twinkle with hope when she learns of the possibility of meeting Syriah at her grandmother’s funeral. In tandem with that, Jazzy is also looking forward to meeting her aunt, Tana, with whom she had bonded well previously.
What is so special about Aunt Tana?
It is fascinating how adult faces do not define the visual aesthetics of Jazzy. We are not sure how they look, but only get acquainted with their voices interspersed in the narrative. This unique visual choice is a nod to the vintage cartoons (think of “Tom and Jerry”) which deliberately concealed the faces of the adults populating the world of the animals and the children.
The meeting with Aunt Tana is special not only because she is a significant character, but also because her arrival marks a full-blown display of the adult world. It also marks Jazzy’s interest in Tana, who seems so different from the others. Tana is not dismissive of her feelings and knows how to have a conversation with her. Tana is the epitome of the perfect adult—by that I don’t mean she is successful, or a multi-tasker, or all that rhetoric associated with professional life to which adulthood is reduced. Tana’s success lies in her way of having a soothing effect on Jazzy. For an adult to be perfect in the eyes of children, he or she just needs to be welcoming. Jazzy confesses to Tana that she was asked out by her friend, Landon, a secret that she would only let out to her as she admires her aunt’s way of dealing with family trolls who interfere with her personal relationships. When Tana laughs away and thereby reduces the gravity of the swirling rumors around her, Jazzy knows that Tana is the one to look up to. Tana seems to share Jazzy’s view on the importance of platonic friendships. It would not be too far-fetched if Jazzy grows up to be like Tana in the future.
Will Jazzy ever reconcile with Syriah?
While Jazzy and Syriah do meet at the funeral, not much conversation flows from either friend. They just glance at each other without inviting much attention and wait for the other to turn up first. As Syriah notices Jazzy chatting and laughing with Tana, she feels a pang of loneliness and regrets not trying hard enough to catch up with her old friend. Such a reference easily pulls us back to the days when we experienced something similar in our preteen years. The friendships, therefore, are at the mercy of ever-changing moods, and imbalanced hormones may tip the balance.
In the end, Jazzy and Syriah are seen running away with fried breads from the funeral feast. The kids arrive at a hill where they shout and proclaim how much they have missed each other. Jazzy and Syriah let go of the tense patch and embrace the new friendship that emerges. Syriah does not really move back to her old neighborhood. However, both the girls are now well prepared to confront the twists and turns of the coming metaphorical growth spurts.
