Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
Watch TrailerThe Harlem Cultural Festival of 1969 drew hundreds of thousands to celebrate African American music, culture, and pride. While the world focused on Woodstock, this gathering pulsed with the revolutionary spirit of Nina Simone, the soul of Stevie Wonder, the gospel power of Mahalia Jackson, and the harmonies of The 5th Dimension. Long-lost footage, buried in a basement for half a century, finally resurfaces to reclaim a dazzling, defiant chapter of history.
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📋 Film Details
| Year | 2021 |
| Country | United States of America |
| Genre | Music, Documentary, History |
| Director | Questlove |
| Runtime | 117 min. |
| Rating | TMDB: 7.6/10 (219 votes) |
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🎬 MovieFinder's Take
This is not merely a concert film; it's a cinematic resurrection of a moment, its sound, and its soaring political spirit. The editing weaves performance and crowd into a single, breathing organism of joy and defiance.
What lingers after the final note is the profound sense of recovery—not just of footage, but of a legacy. It’s a necessary correction to the historical record, delivered with overwhelming warmth and rhythm. — MovieFinder Editorial
Director: Questlove
Best Watched
Jubilant defiance, sun-drenched communion, and the raw electricity of a reclaimed legacy.
🎭 Cast
Stevie Wonder
Self
Lin-Manuel Miranda
Self - Artist
Chris Rock
Self - Artist
Tony Lawrence
Self - Harlem Cultural Festival Producer & Host (archive footage)
Nina Simone
Self (archive footage)
B.B. King
Self (archive footage)
Abbey Lincoln
Self (archive footage)
Mavis Staples
Self - Singer (archive footage) (voice)
Mahalia Jackson
Self (archive footage)
David Ruffin
Self
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