Disclosure: I was sent a screener from the vendor in exchange for an honest review. All views shared are mine and mine alone.
If you watch Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, then you know and love Questlove who leads his band. Well, now you can an amazing documentary that Questlove put together to honor and celebrate the epic The Harlem Cultural Festival, which took place over 6 weeks in the summer of 1969. Being Black History Month this month, the release of "Summer of Soul" to DVD and Digital is the perfect release to help celebrate Black History, culture, fashion and music, and is a must see, if you didn't see it in theaters or on HULU last year.
And, if releasing to DVD and Digital wasn't enough for this documentary this month, I was so excited last week, when I heard it was also nominated for BEST DOCUMENTARY and BEST EDITING by BAFTA! Great job Questlove...crossing my fingers this documentary wins both, as it is so deserving of not only the nominations, but winning in these two categories.
This documentary brings to the forefront music and its healing powers, as well as all the cultural and fashion trends of the late 60's. Topping the charts during that decade were songs by B.B. King, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, and so many more talented artists. Even though this festival was before my time, I am so grateful that there was footage captured and that Questlove turned this festival into an amazing documentary, so that I and so many others could enjoy, time and time again.
I watched Summer of Love earlier today and loved everything about it. The bonus features of audio commentary, behind the scenes of this lost and forgotten footage, and a look at Harlem Then and Now are definitely worth checking out, when you sit down and watch this well put together documentary. I had my girls sit with me, and used this documentary as part of our homeschool studies for Black History month. They were familiar with some of the musical acts from that time period, but couldn't get over how young they were back then, while still sounding amazing. They both wished they could go back in time as they would want to attend this 6 week festival and see these musical legends up close doing what they do best -- entertaining and healing through their music. But, at least we have this documentary to enjoy this month and for years to come.
With Black History month upon us, why not make time to watch "Summer of Love," a documentary from Questlove. You will not be disappointed! It is now available to watch on DVD and Digital.
Film Synopsis
"Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson presents a powerful and transporting documentary—part music film, part historical record created around an epic event that celebrated Black history, culture and fashion. Over the course of six weeks in the summer of 1969, just one hundred miles south of Woodstock, The Harlem Cultural Festival was filmed in Mount Morris Park (now Marcus Garvey Park).
The footage was largely forgotten–until now. Summer of Soul shines a light on the importance of history to our spiritual well-being and stands as a testament to the healing power of music during times of unrest, both past and present. The feature includes concert performances by Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Sly & the Family Stone, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Mahalia Jackson, B.B. King, The 5th Dimension and more.
Bonus Features*
- Audio Commentary – View the film with audio commentary by director Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson.
- Soul Searching – A behind-the-scenes look at Summer of Soul. We’ll learn about where the footage from the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival has been, how it was uncovered, and why director Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson decided to tell this story now.
- Harlem: Then & Now – We revisit Mount Morris Park, location of the Harlem Cultural Festival. We learn how the neighborhood was a crossroads of culture and precarious politics and explore why Summer of Soul is so relevant during this present time of great political upheaval."
*bonus features vary by product and retailer
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Disclosure: I was sent a screener from the vendor in exchange for an honest review. All views shared are mine and mine alone.
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