"Summer Of Soul (...Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised)": Movie Review
Written By Alex Greenbaum
Questlove's directorial debut is noteworthy in its substance but is an overall forgettable experience. Through an array of interviews and restored footage, we are brought into the 1969 Harlem Cultural festival where top performers such as Stevie Wonder, Sly and the Family Stone and many more put on a bigger than life concert for the empowerment and celebration of African American culture. And while the structure of the film, with its amazing music and deft commentary on the tumultuous era of the late 60s can be insightful, I couldn't help but feel empty when the film ended.
With over 118 minutes of artfully conceptualized footage by Questlove, there's about 40 minutes of really excellent material. The rest of its runtime starts to inevitably drag and becomes aimless as the musical performances play on with little meaningful commentary. It's equivalent to watching another family's old home videotapes, which might be interesting for a few minutes, but in the long run there's a lack of connection to what you're experiencing.
The best compliment I can give "Summer Of Soul (...Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised)" is that it's not only a quality directorial debut, but a solidly produced documentary that is elevated further by its creative editing (Joshua L. Pearson). The colors pop and the audio sounds delightfully crisp, making the introduction exhilarating to experience as you are thrust into the middle of this chaotic yet meaningful time in history.
But there's only so much of a film you can put together from some lost footage. While there's some compelling narrative paths involving Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, and Chris Rock that somewhat flesh out its mostly static plot line, there isn't much else new to learn. Even though there is recognition for the meaning this festival had for so many people of color, "Summer Of Soul (...Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised)" doesn't achieve the intended emotional heft.
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