Summer of Soul, or when the Revolution Could not be Televised - Don't Miss this One

[Idris2002]

I saw this yesterday, and I would recommend it to each and every one of you. It's the sort of film where you come out on a high, and it's not just because of the ecstatic groove running through the music (gospel, jazz, Staple Singers, Sly Stone, Gladys Knight and so many more). It's a really great music documentary, just in the way its put together. There's talking heads and archive footage from the time, but these complement the sounds and never get in their way.

The idea was to have a cultural festival in Harlem during summer months that might otherwise see trouble on the streets. The gigs were filmed with a view to eventual cinematic release, but that hasn't come to fruition until now.

I always like these old 60s music docs because of the little bits of social history you get with them - but this is the social history! There's social radicalism and social crisis, Black Panthers and liberal Republican mayor Lindsay - the fashion, the feels, et cetera et cetera. Interestingly, the Latin sounds of Harlem's hispanic community get their due recognition.

This could, and probably should, be a multi-episode series. That's except for the fact that it's so brilliantly put together. Don't miss this one.

Best bit?

Spoiler

The guy who says "Black people are going back to Africa, White people are going to the Moon - I'm going to stay here in New York with the Peurto Ricans and have some fun".

IMDB thing here: Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (2021) - IMDb

 

[hitmouse]

Have you read the Stuart Cosgrove trilogy, btw? I've read the Detroit one but not the Memphis or Harlem ones - sounds relevant to anyone who might like this, anyway.

 

[Idris2002]

hitmouse - not only have I not read it, I'd never heard of it until now! But I might seek it out.

Nina Simone was one of many revelations in the documentary - a brilliant musician. She would have been great on something like the Goldberg variations or Rachmaninoff, but absolutely outstading, here, on "Backlash Blues" (I mention the classical stuff because that's what she originally trained for, before having the door to the classical music world slammed in her face).

 

[hitmouse]

hitmouse - not only have I not read it, I'd never heard of it until now! But I might seek it out.

Yeah, if you're interested in the mixture of music and social history I'd definitely say it sounds worth a read. Been a while since I read it but from what I remember I wasn't wildly in love with his writing style, but the content's good enough to make up for it if you're interested in the subject.

 

[Maggot]

This was on Channel 4 last night and is available on their website now.

Haven't seen it yet, but looking forward to it.

 

[Sue]

This was on Channel 4 last night and is available on their website now.

Haven't seen it yet, but looking forward to it.

Didn't see this thread before but saw the film when it came out. It's absolutely fantastic.