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

Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) is a documentary film directed by Ahmir Khalib Thompson (Questlove) about the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival. It premiered at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival in January 2021.[1]

Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
Sundance release poster
Directed byQuestlove
Produced byDavid Dinerstein
Robert Fyvolent
Joseph Patel
CinematographyShawn Peters
Edited byJoshua L. Pearson
Production
companies
Concordia Studio
LarryBilly Productions
Mass Distraction Media
RadicalMedia
Vulcan Productions
Distributed bySearchlight Pictures
Hulu
Release date
  • January 28, 2021 (2021-01-28) (Sundance)
Running time
117 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Synopsis

The documentary examines the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, which was held at Mount Morris Park (now Marcus Garvey Park) in Harlem and lasted for six weeks. Despite having a large attendance and performers such as Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, and Sly and the Family Stone, the festival was seen as obscure in pop culture, something that the documentarians investigate.

Production

Footage of the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival was shot and later placed in a basement, where it sat for about 50 years unpublished.[2] Thompson expressed surprise that the footage sat for so long, as music had a large impact on his life and development, stating "What would have happened if this was allowed a seat at the table? How much of a difference would that have made in my life? That was the moment that extinguished any doubt I had that I could do this."[3]

Release

Summer of Soul premiered on January 28, 2021 at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Grand Jury prize and Audience award. Film rights were acquired by Searchlight Pictures and Hulu.[4]

Reception

Critical reception has been positive and the film holds a rating of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 44 reviews.[5] Rolling Stone praised the film as "the Perfect Movie to Kick Off Sundance 2021" and that it was "an incredible, vital act of restoration — and reclamation".[6] The Guardian gave Summer of Soul five stars, stating that there was "a moment so striking and rich with power at the center of Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson’s Summer of Soul (…Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised) that, while watching it, I actually forgot to breathe."[7]

Awards
  • Grand Jury prize at the Sundance Film Festival (2021, won)[2]
  • Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival (2021, won)[2]

References
  1. Goodman, Stephanie (2021-02-03). "Questlove's 'Summer of Soul' Wins at Sundance". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  2. Minsker, Evan. "Questlove's Summer of Soul Documentary Wins Sundance 2021 Grand Jury Prize". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  3. Lindahl, Chris (2021-02-02). "Questlove on Building 'Summer of Soul' Around Awe-Inspiring Musical Moments". IndieWire. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  4. Jackson, Angelique (2021-02-05). "Searchlight Pictures and Hulu Pick Up Questlove's Sundance Winner 'Summer of Soul'". Variety. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  5. "Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)". Rotten Tomatoes.
  6. Fear, David (2021-01-29). "'Summer of Soul' Is the Perfect Movie to Kick Off Sundance 2021". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  7. "Summer of Soul review – thrilling documentary reveals a forgotten festival". the Guardian. 2021-01-29. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
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