Alicia Keys hits the history notes

Going from musings on the nature of truth to the structure of her art and her own journey, Alicia Keys pulls the curtain back on her life.

In Pieces, a short documentary shot with an artistic flair for nostalgic, grainy textures and avant-garde camera movements, Keyes creates a full image of her work. She talks about what growing up in Hell’s Kitchen in the late 80s was like, how it pushed her to become an artist, and how her kids continue to do the same today. 

With a frankness that feels important and immediate, Pieces was clearly kept well in hand by production company ANORAK Film. The editing choices from Cartel merged the grainy moments of old footage with newer pieces, creating a telescopic view of Keyes’ life and artwork for client Mercedes-Benz.