‘Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
Summer of Soul (subtitled 'When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised') is a new documentary film directed by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson that has just premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
Concerning itself with a 1969 event titled the Harlem Cultural Festival which was held over six weekends in the summer of 1969. The documentary takes a relevant look at the concerts and the social background in which they were held.
The actual event showcased over 60 acts including the likes of Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, David Ruffin, Max Roach and Abbey Lincoln, B.B. King, Gladys Knight and the Pips, The Staple Singers, Sly and the Family Stone. With over 300k attending and the whole shows was provided free of charge.
Nearly Almost two-hours long, the Summer of Soul film is looking like a must catch once out on release. While 39 songs are listed as on the soundtrack, as Gladys Knight says in the film, “It wasn’t just about the music”,
Thompson and Pearson's fluent interweaving of the concert performances and the social backdrop reaches a sublime peak in a sequence that combines the Staples' "It's Been a Change" with festivalgoers' reactions, for a local news report, to the moon landing, which coincided with the fest's third weekend. Song and sound bites alike signal a grassroots awakening.
Hollywood Reporter review quote (link below)
Release details to follow
Reviews
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/summer-of-soul-film-review-sundance-2021
Imdb
Summer Of Soul (...Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised) is a feature documentary about the legendary 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival which celebrated African American music and culture and promoted Black pride and unity.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11422728/
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