In 1969, a massive event without equal in the history of the United States took place, where people gathered around various musical performances and shaped a unique cultural movement that celebrated a different way of looking at life. No, we’re not talking about Woodstock. We are talking about what was considered the “Black Woodstock”, despite the fact that it had wickers to be valued by itself and did not need analogs.
Why I Sing the Blues
In the neighborhoods of New York, the Harlem Cultural Festival took place, a celebration of African-American music and culturesspurred on by waves of civil rights protest and the need to generate racial unity. All the necessary elements to be a revolution that was not going to be televisedas the subtitle of ‘Summer of Soul’ says, the recent Oscar-winning documentary that we can enjoy on Disney + since last summer.
Beyond the academic award, which Flee undoubtedly deserves -with all due respect in the world-, the documentary by questlove (debuting as a director although with years of experience in music as a researcher and as a drummer for The Roots) shines on its own merits that will be accessible to all kinds of audiences. Regardless of whether or not brilliant artists like nina simone, Sly and the Family Stone, B.B.King or Stevie wonderthe work uses the right tools to sell you why they were the most vibrant musicians of their generation.
Leaving aside the impressive archive material that Questlove has been able to access – which could already be presented in a functional way and would be equally interesting – it is the way in which it chooses to present it that helps make it easy to follow for everyone. It also uses interviews with contemporary people, such as Lin-Manuel Mirandawhich help to connect the context of the late sixties with the present, although it does not abuse them like other music documentaries.
‘Summer of Soul’: Questlove makes his directorial debut with a sensory experience
That respect for the context helps to keep the viewer involved, and then the musical performances form the backbone that turns the viewing of the documentary into something vibrant. The concerts are amazing in themselves, since we are talking about true musical legends.
But how they are laid out and staged show Questlove’s experience as a musician, because they come very close to conveying that adrenaline typical of attending a concert full of life. That electrifying, well-measured montage – which might as well have earned a nomination over other more questionable honorees – makes ‘Summer of Soul’ a fabulous piece of cinema.
If you also connect with the powerful sounds of soul, classic blues, jazz and the first beats of funk, here it awaits you a whole sensory experience.