There are plenty of films that have kids in them, but how many of them are really about kids, what they think, how they feel? A new film by director Morrisa Maltz, "Jazzy," really is about its main subjects, best friends Jazzy and Syriah. When you grow up, you're going to have to go to work. When you go to work, you'll be tired. When you're tired, you'll want to go home. When you go home, then your boss gets mad.
When your boss gets mad, you're fired. When you're fired, you don't work. But when you don't work, you don't get money. When you don't get money, then you'll be homeless. When you're homeless, you'll be hungry. When you're hungry, you'll die. Growing up sounds ugly. MARTIN: Well, when you put it that way, growing up does sound ugly, which may be one reason why the film takes a gentle and meandering look at two young girls and their friends as they navigate friendship, family, heritage, and yes, growing up in South Dakota.
Joining us to tell us more about "Jazzy" is the star of the film, Jasmine Bearkiller Shangreaux, and director Morrisa Maltz. Thank you both so much for being here.
This film isn't so much a follow-up as it grows out of your debut film, "The Unknown Country. What made you think to focus your next film on her? It took many years. It was hard to make. And Jazzy was so amazing in the few moments that she's in the film, and she was so captivating.
And it was sort of a natural progression that we thought, oh, well, why don't we keep working with Jazzy, you know, instead of just ending it at "The Unknown Country"?
