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

The documentary examines the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, which was held at Mount Morris Park (now Marcus Garvey Park) in Harlem and lasted for six weeks. Despite having a large attendance and performers such as Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, and Sly and the Family Stone, the festival was seen as obscure in pop culture, something that the documentarians investigate.

Footage of the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival was shot and later placed in a basement, where it sat for about 50 years unpublished.[2] Thompson expressed surprise that the footage sat for so long, as music had a large impact on his life and development, stating "What would have happened if this was allowed a seat at the table? How much of a difference would that have made in my life? That was the moment that extinguished any doubt I had that I could do this."[3]

Summer of Soul premiered on January 28, 2021 at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Grand Jury prize and Audience award. Film rights were acquired by Searchlight Pictures and Hulu.[4]

Critical reception has been positive and the film holds a rating of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 44 reviews.[5] Rolling Stone praised the film as "the Perfect Movie to Kick Off Sundance 2021" and that it was "an incredible, vital act of restoration — and reclamation".[6] The Guardian gave Summer of Soul five stars, stating that there was "a moment so striking and rich with power at the center of Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson’s Summer of Soul (…Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised) that, while watching it, I actually forgot to breathe."[7]

• Summer of Soul at IMDb