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

2021, Documentary/Music, 1h 57m

220 Reviews 100+ Verified Ratings

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):

Jul 2, 2021 wide
Release Date (Streaming):

Jul 2, 2021
Box Office (Gross USA):

$2.3M
Runtime:

1h 57m
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

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News & Interviews for Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)

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

All Critics (220) | Top Critics (56) | Fresh (218) | Rotten (2)

Full Review… Kenneth Womack Salon.com

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… Bill Brioux Brioux.tv

Full Review… DarkSkyLady DarkSkyLady Reviews

Full Review… Erick Estrada Cinegarage

Full Review… Josh Parham Next Best Picture

Full Review… Matt Neal ABC Radio (Australia)

Full Review… Tim Brayton Alternate Ending

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