Fest Track On Sirk TV Film Review: SUMMER OF SOUL [Nantucket Film Festival 2021 - Virtual]
Watching history that was buried in a way before social media is an interesting construct especially in a time as volatile as the late 60s. During that summer, a concert series (it seems it happened over many weekends) was the Harlem Cultural Festival which seemed to bring together so many people around the NYC area (especially African Americans) to a free concert in the city of Harlem. Created with the New York City's mayor behind him, the entire series was even filmed (even though the producer said there was no money given to really shoot it). No one ever bought the footage or aired it since Woodstock happened that summer as well as the moon landing and it sat for 50 years in some storage room. Enter Questlove, the band leader on The Tonight Show who dusted it off, got the rights for it and decided to make a documentary film optimizing the footage and sometimes just letting it play to show a perspective. Thus "Summer Of Soul (Or 'The Revolution Will Not Be Televised')" [Documentary Features/Special Presentations] was born. The feeling running rampant through the footage and that time was of action against aggression but also one of change, discussion and hope. Some of the players many have heard of but some (since a good number of the acts captured ended up being gospel) change the tune. One of the most powerful that must be seen is a building scene where Rev. Jesse Jackson is talking in front of the band about civil rights and being with Dr,. King when he was murdered. He along with the sax player Benny Blanch were with King when he died. Blanch is also there with the band onstage. It plays out into a performance of one of Dr. King's favorite gospel songs sung by Mahalia Jackson and assisted by Mavis Staples of the Staple Singers. The performance shows raw rage, hurt, love and so much in one performance.
History was very much shown on that stage and yet no one except those in Harlem saw it for over 50 years. There are numerous other performers featured and some even do updated interviews (though most are with concertgoers from the day which makes sense). Stevie Wonder is absolutely on fire at the concert with a energy live that seems almost ethereal. He still has this feel (last time I saw him perform was 12 years ago) but this is him at his absolute best. Sly & The Family Stone before they collapsed, is also interesting because they supposedly came out without a sound check (since it sounded like Sly was already being difficult (watch the recent 1971 documentary to see a continuation). Nina Simone also figures in and gives a different view of herself in live performing where she channel a mix of Carole King and Billie Holiday in a way all her own slamming on the keys and delivering a strong message. Questlove crafts an interesting but straightforward account of what the concert series means balancing both political and social commentary with just the joy of what the concert was and why it meant so much to people, even today. B+
By Tim Wassberg
