Jagged

Alanis Morissette takes a candid look back at being a young woman in the maelstrom of superstardom in the new documentary Jagged. The Canadian singer, previously a teen pop singer in her home country, was only 21 when her record Jagged Little Pill topped international charts in 1995, powered by hits like “You Oughta Know,” “Hand in My Pocket,” “Ironic,” and more. Today they are alt-rock feminist anthems and the basis of a Broadway musical. With the power of hindsight, Morissette can now revisit the good, the bad, and the ugly of that period in her life and career.

Filmmaker Alison Klayman has created indelible documentary portraits of artists such as Ai Weiwei and Carmen Herrera. Her sensitive interviewing style gives Morissette the space to reflect on her journey from Ottawa to Hollywood and around the world. The film brings added perspectives of the male band members who toured with Morissette and bonded in the whirlwind of performing before massive crowds from one city to another. We also hear from admirers such as musician Shirley Manson of Garbage, critic Hanif Abdurraqib, and filmmaker Kevin Smith (who cast Morissette as God in his film Dogma) as they celebrate Morissette’s songwriting.

Some music documentaries serve mainly as a nostalgia trip. This one will certainly transport you to wherever you first heard Morissette. But it goes further, offering a rare woman’s perspective on reaching the heights in the music business. As a natural people pleaser in her youth, Morissette put on a cheerful mask in public. Now she’s ready to share what was concealed.

Content advisory: sexual content, mature themes