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

2021 117 min ★ 7.6 Music, Documentary, History

During the same summer as Woodstock, over 300,000 people attended the Harlem Cultural Festival, celebrating African American music and culture, and promoting Black pride and unity. The footage from the festival sat in a basement, unseen for over 50 years, keeping this incredible event in America's history lost — until now.

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Cast

Stevie Wonder

Self

Lin-Manuel Miranda

Self - Artist

Chris Rock

Self - Artist

Tony Lawrence

Self - Harlem Cultural Festival Producer & Host (archive footage)

Nina Simone

Self (archive footage)

B.B. King

Self (archive footage)

Abbey Lincoln

Self (archive footage)

Mavis Staples

Self - Singer (archive footage) (voice)

Mahalia Jackson

Self (archive footage)

David Ruffin

Self

Details

Director

Questlove

Tagline

"A Questlove Jawn."

Status

Released

Original Language

EN

Revenue

$3,696,069

Production

Mass Distraction Media, RadicalMedia, Vulcan Productions, Concordia Studio

Reviews

L

Louisa Moore - Screen Zealots

March 9, 2021

★ 6/10

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 H...

B

badelf

November 18, 2022

★ 8/10

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 perti...