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

2021, Documentary/Music, 1h 57m

215 Reviews 100+ Verified Ratings

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critics consensus

Deftly interweaving incredible live footage with a series of revealing interviews, Summer of Soul captures the spirit and context of a watershed moment while tying it firmly to the present. Read critic reviews

audience says

Summer of Soul will be educational for a lot of viewers, but whether or not you know about the history behind it, this incredible music is not to be missed. Read audience reviews

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Movie Info

In his acclaimed debut as a filmmaker, Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson presents a powerful and transporting documentary-part music film, part historical record created around an epic event that celebrated Black history, culture and fashion. Over the course of six weeks in the summer of 1969, just one hundred miles south of Woodstock, The Harlem Cultural Festival was filmed in Mount Morris Park (now Marcus Garvey Park). The footage was never seen and largely forgotten--until now. 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. The feature includes never-before-seen concert performances by Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Sly & the Family Stone, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Ray Baretto, Abbey Lincoln & Max Roach and more.
  • Rating:
    PG-13 (Smoking|Brief Drug Material|Some Disturbing Images)
  • Genre:
    Documentary, Music
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson
  • Producer:
    David Dinerstein, Robert Fyvolent, Joseph Patel
  • Release Date (Theaters):
     wide
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Box Office (Gross USA):
    $2.3M
  • Runtime:
  • Distributor:
    Searchlight Pictures
  • Sound Mix:
    Dolby Digital, Stereo

Cast & Crew

Lin-Manuel Miranda
Self
Stevie Wonder
Self
B.B. King
Self
Chris Rock
Self
Nina Simone
Self
Stevie Wonder
Music Performer
Nina Simone
Music Performer
Sly and the Family Stone
Music Performer
Gladys Knight and the Pips
Music Performer
Mahalia Jackson
Music Performer
B.B. King
Music Performer
The 5th Dimension
Music Performer
Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson
Director
David Dinerstein
Producer
Robert Fyvolent
Producer
Joseph Patel
Producer
Jody Allen
Executive Producer
David Barse
Executive Producer
Rocky Collins
Executive Producer
Ron Eisenberg
Executive Producer
Shawn Peters
Cinematographer
Joshua L. Pearson
Film Editor
Jen Isaacson
Executive Producer
Jon Kamen
Executive Producer
David Sirulnick
Executive Producer

Executive Producer
Jannat Gargi
Executive Producer
Beth Hubbard
Executive Producer
Davis Guggenheim
Executive Producer
Laurene Powell-Jobs
Executive Producer
Jeffrey Lurie
Executive Producer
Marie Therese Guirgis
Executive Producer
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Critic Reviews for Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)

All Critics (215) | Top Critics (55) | Fresh (213) | Rotten (2)
Full Review… Kambole Campbell Hyperallergic Full Review… David Fear Rolling Stone Full Review… Kevin Maher Times (UK) Full Review… Adam Nayman The Ringer Full Review… Mark Kermode Observer (UK) Full Review… Charlotte O'Sullivan London Evening Standard Full Review… Matt Neal ABC Radio (Australia) Full Review… Tim Brayton Alternate Ending Full Review… Douglas Davidson Elements of Madness Full Review… Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Full Review… Mark Johnson Awards Daily Full Review… John Beifuss Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)
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