(…Or, when the Revolution could not be televised)
‘Summer of Soul’ is a feature documentary about the legendary 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival which celebrated African American music and culture and promoted Black pride and unity. Premiered at Sundance Film Festival to great acclaim, where it won both the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award.
‘Summer of Soul’ shines a light on the importance of history to our spiritual well-being and stands as a testament to the healing power of music during times of unrest, both past and present. It is a piece of power-to-the-people-art, featuring dizzyingly rich footage that has been forgotten and neglected until now.
A brief glance at the line-up reveals a remarkable list of talent including BB King, Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Gladys Knight and Sly and the Family Stone. It is touching to witness concertgoers who were just kids at the time watching these terrific images.