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

"Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)" is an American documentary film released in 2021. It is directed by Questlove (Ahmir Thompson) and chronicles the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival which was an epic event celebrating African American music and culture, and promoting Black pride and unity. The festival took place over six Sundays during the summer of 1969 at Mount Morris Park (now Marcus Garvey Park). The film unearths footage that has never been seen before, packed with incredible performances by various renowned artists."

Making / Production

This documentary marks the directorial debut of Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, who is known for being the drummer and joint frontman for the Grammy Award–winning band The Roots. The film makes use of more than 40 hours of footage shot by TV producer Hal Tulchin that has sat in basement for 50 years.

Actors

• Stevie Wonder - Appears as himself, providing a powerful performance at the festival.
• Mahalia Jackson - The Queen of Gospel showcases her vocal prowess in the documentary.
• Nina Simone - Known for her stirring performances and civil rights activism, Simone delivers a potent performance.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2021 and won both the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award in the U.S. Documentary Competition.
• More than 300,000 people attended the Harlem Cultural Festival, the event that is central to the documentary.

Awards

The movie fetched multiple awards at different platforms. It won the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award in the U.S. Documentary Competition at the Sundance Film Festival.

Quotes

• "Just because the world was not ready for the film 50 years ago, does not mean today will be the same." - Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson
• "Music is a language that doesn’t speak in particular words. It speaks in emotions." - Stevie Wonder

Music, Soundtrack

• "Uptight (Everything's Alright)" - Stevie Wonder
• "Are You Ready" - The Chambers Brothers
• "Everyday People" - Sly and the Family Stone