Summer of Soul is now available on Digital and DVD.
This is the perfect film to watch for Black History Month. It is educational and entertaining. It interweaves interviews and old footage of concert performances of some incredible music at the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival. The film celebrates Black excellence by displaying how our music, fashion, culture and movements in present time have been inspired by these talented artists back in 1969. As a fashion lover, I was completely in love with the outfits worn by the performers and festival goers. I got so much inspiration for my next concert outfits and really appreciated these artist for everything they have done without all the praise they deserve. To think that Woodstock became known as this epic festival and we had no clue that this monumental event was happening that same summer. Watching a young Stevie Wonder totally get down was simply mesmerizing. I found myself cheering and dancing feeling like I was there too. Then, there was a lot of moments where it felt disappointing that although so much time has passed some things have remained the same when it comes to what these talented artists were clearly protesting in their own artistic way.
Film Synopsis
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 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 concert performances by Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Sly & the Family Stone, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Mahalia Jackson, B.B. King, The 5th Dimension and more.
Bonus Features*
- Audio Commentary – View the film with audio commentary by director Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson.
- Soul Searching – A behind-the-scenes look at Summer of Soul. We’ll learn about where the footage from the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival has been, how it was uncovered, and why director Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson decided to tell this story now.
- Harlem: Then & Now – We revisit Mount Morris Park, location of the Harlem Cultural Festival. We learn how the neighborhood was a crossroads of culture and precarious politics and explore why Summer of Soul is so relevant during this present time of great political upheaval.
*bonus features vary by product and retailer
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