ALANIS MORISETTE UPSET AT FILM JAGGED @TIFF2021

Well you would think that most music documentaries are most intriguing especially when it comes to someone like Alanis Morisette. The second highest female record selling singer would have much to say about her illustrious career. By far she is much different now than that infamous video interview she had back in 1995 on MuchMusic. She was showing her angry, rebellious and true side with Kim Clarke Champniss. That interview will always stick in our head as she rose to stardom at the tender age of 21.

Alison Klayman directs this HBO documentary Jagged. She does what a normal documentarian would do for any subject like her previous focus Ai WeiWei. The film focuses on the start of Alanis’ career. She was looking like a Paula Abdul and Whitney Houston rip off trying to be a pop sensation. After signing with MCA, Alanis was under their control. Even to the point that they were concerned about her weight. But this is not the only issue that came to fruition.

The Rape Allegations

Alanis Morisette says that she was raped at the age of 15 by multiple men in the industry. Fifteen seems to be the magic number where all hell breaks loose. “It took me years in therapy to even admit there had been any kind of victimization on my part,” the singer says in the documentary. “I would always say I was consenting, and then I’d be reminded like ‘Hey, you were 15, you’re not consenting at 15.’” 

“Now I’m like, ‘Oh yeah, they’re all pedophiles. It’s all statutory rape,’” she said. But Alanis did not reveal any of the people who did this to her. She does say that it kind of fell on deaf ears.

The Album: Jagged Little Pill

With press outlets headlining this part of the film and reacting to it, there are much to like about Jagged. Glen Ballard who does give interviews about her writing and transforming into the Alanis that she wanted to be. It was an important time in her career where she was laying down the foundation of her album Jagged Little Pill. Specifically, when releasing the song “You Oughta Know” which had the airwaves go nuts. Also, signing on with Madonna‘s boutique label Maverick Records was also worth nothing. Seeing what Madonna had to say at the time was also a neat part of this documentary.

Her 18 month Jagged Little Pill tour was eccentric. Much commentary came from drummer Taylor Hawkins talking about those memorable moments. Incidentally, when they were trying to get action backstage because there many girls who wanted to see Alanis. To the times where Taylor had to leave her band for Foo Fighters. This happened after the Jagged Little Pill tour which really hurt Alanis at the end. She did not have any regrets that she was the only female in the band. The tour was just better for all of them this way.

Despite Alanis not showing up to the premiere of this film at the Toronto International Film Festival. And saying that the people behind this film a “salacious agenda” is quite confusing. Jagged is done in good taste despite the allegations. Alanis Morisette sounds as positive as she could be about the whole thing in the film. To have her upset about the only film done about her is quite ironic. Don’t you think?