Music

Documentary

History

Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)

Mass Distraction Media

RadicalMedia

Vulcan Productions

Concordia Studio

United States of America

English

Stevie Wonder

Lin-Manuel Miranda

Chris Rock

Tony Lawrence

Nina Simone

B.B. King

Abbey Lincoln

Mavis Staples

Mahalia Jackson

David Ruffin

Sly Stone

Hugh Masekela

John V. Lindsay

Ray Barretto

Herbie Mann

Mongo Santamaría

Questlove

Luis A. Miranda Jr.

Walter Cronkite

Malcolm X

Martin Luther King Jr.

Robert F. Kennedy

Richard Nixon

John F. Kennedy

Jesse Jackson

Moms Mabley

Max Roach

Fidel Castro

Redd Foxx

Robyn Fisher

Sunny Bourgeois

Lauren Nikrooz

Viola Nicholson

Mark Thompson

Nicola David

Rich Mach

Mike Stahr

Alan Chow

Dennis Hamlin

Paul Massey

Aisha Hallgren

Paul Hsu

Jiho Kim

Emily Strong

David Dinerstein

Robert Fyvolent

Joseph Patel

Andrea Dramer

Davis Guggenheim

Laurene Powell Jobs

Shawn Peters

Ruth Johnston

Joshua L. Pearson

Jody Allen

Nicole Stott

Cora Atkinson

Beth Hubbard

Dave Sirulnick

Rocky Collins

Jen Isaacson

Jon Kamen

Gregory A. Thomson

Ashley Bembry-Kaintuck

Jonathan Silberberg

Inuka Bacote

Jannat Gargi

Jeffrey Lurie

Louisa Moore - Screen Zealots

The times, they were a’changin’ in the summer of 1969, with many turning to music as a vehicle to help them express their feelings on important social and political issues. The most famous music festival of all time, Woodstock, has seen its concert footage shown the world over. That same year in New York, over 300,000 people attended the predominantly African-American concert series known as the Harlem Cultural Festival.

The filmed performances of some of the most important artists in black music history sat in a basement for five decades, only to finally be seen in “Summer Of Soul (…Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised),” a documentary by first-time director Ahmir-Khalib “Questlove” Thompson. This concert film is a cultural and historical treasure trove of American music that shines a light on black art and culture in the late Sixties.

For those who are seeking a well-rounded music education, this film is a must-see. The documentary makes extensive use of the never-before-seen footage, often letting the musical performances speak for themselves. Thompson weaves file footage and interviews with festival artists and attendees that share their stories on African-American popular culture. You can tell just how important the Harlem Culture Festival was to everyone involved, and some of the best clips in the film are shots of the faces in the crowds, all of them radiating pure joy.

Clocking in at two hours, the film could stand a little editing. Since he is a musician himself, I understand Thompson’s tendency to include as much of every single performance as possible, but the film suffers because of it and drags on a bit too long. But just as my interest would wane, I’d get drawn back in almost as quickly with an enthralling anecdote from the likes of Jesse Jackson or Marilyn McCoo, or a moving performance from talents like Mavis Staples and Mahalia Jackson.

“Summer Of Soul (…Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised),” is a stunning historical record that captures a moment in time when the stories of black America weren’t always told, and it lifts up their voices in the process.

In 1969, besides Woodstock, there was also an unknown Summer of Soul Festival in New York. More specifically, in Harlem. If you're a music buff (I am), this is a must-see film. It includes amazing performances that we would otherwise not have seen. Eclipsed by Woodstock, the recordings found no takers at the time and sat in a basement for 50 years. Unearthed by Questlove, and interlaced with pertinent interviews, the music speaks for film.

'Summer of Soul' Wins Best Documentary Feature | 94th Oscars

Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson takes home the win for his documentary Summer of Soul | EE BAFTAs 2022

SUMMER OF SOUL | Official Trailer | In Theaters and on Hulu July 2

PFF SpringFest Q&A | SUMMER OF SOUL

SUMMER OF SOUL | Official Teaser

Meet the Artist: Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson on SUMMER OF SOUL (...OR, WHEN THE REVOLUTION COULD NOT

Best Movies

Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)

Cast & Crew

Videos

Cast

Stevie Wonder

Lin-Manuel Miranda

Chris Rock

Tony Lawrence

Nina Simone

B.B. King

Abbey Lincoln

Mavis Staples

Mahalia Jackson

David Ruffin

Box office

More Like This

Filthy Betrayal

Jimi Plays Monterey

Silverchair: Live From Faraway Stables

Music of the Heart

E. T., an Emotional Blockbuster

Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii

Blues in the Night

ABBA in Concert