Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (2021 | USA | 117 minutes | Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson)
A cultural artifact, a historical document, and a musical masterpiece, Summer of Soul is truly a documentary we are lucky to get to see. When considering how there is a world where we may never have gotten the chance to lay eyes upon any of the footage of the once in a lifetime musical event, that only makes the experience all the more special to witness it now.
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson’s feature directorial debut, Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) surfaces footage from the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival to reveal its cultural impact. Almost lost to time, iconic sets from Nina Simone to Stevie Wonder sat in reels stored away in a basement for several decades. The film’s origins speak to how Summer of Soul is a documentary we are truly blessed to get to see and whose long overdue presentation serves its history justice. That Questlove managed to ensure the event could see the light of the day is a remarkable achievement and only makes the experience of viewing it decades later all the more special.
That special experience, the Harlem Cultural Festival, was a series of concerts held in Harlem, New York to highlight the talents and contributions of Black artists. As much a deep dive into this musical history as it is a portrait of the era’s growing cultural and political movements, the documentary reveals so much about the moment in time that gave rise to the Festival. It looks at how summertime in the 1960s had come to be defined by violence, from the assassinations of Dr. King, Malcolm X, and the Kennedys to the brutality inflicted on those protesting in the aftermath of the killings. The opportunity for a cultural event such as this was a welcome relief for many who were still dealing with the incomprehensible scale of death and destruction from Vietnam. There was a desire for joy, and music was exactly the way for people to experience it.
In addition to showing us exceptional music from the era’s greatest artists, the film is a love letter to the people that experienced the event, many of whom speak with profound emotion about their memories of that time. Hearing them reflect on such profound experiences, only now knowing the impact it would have on their lives, is deeply moving. The way that time makes it so you never know how much you will miss something until it is long gone ensures that the sense of loss and joy of rediscovery the attendees feel is our own. As they talk about leaving the historic event for the last time and look back to their past, it cuts deep to the soul. Seeing their gratitude at Questlove’s efforts to assure that the Festival will not be forgotten is reason enough to enjoy the masterclass in holistic documentary filmmaking that is Summer of Soul.
Summer of Soul is in theaters and Hulu.