Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysAPA Heritage MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)

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

  • 20212021
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 58m
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
11K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Mavis Staples in Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (2021)
In his acclaimed debut as a filmmaker, 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 never seen and 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 never-before-seen 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.
Play trailer1:59
8 Videos
38 Photos
  • Documentary
  • Music

Documentary about the legendary 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival which celebrated African-American music and culture and promoted Black pride and unity.Documentary about the legendary 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival which celebrated African-American music and culture and promoted Black pride and unity.Documentary about the legendary 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival which celebrated African-American music and culture and promoted Black pride and unity.

IMDb RATING
8.0/10
11K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Questlove
  • Stars
    • Dorinda Drake
    • Barbara Bland-Acosta
    • Darryl Lewis
Top credits
  • Director
    • Questlove
  • Stars
    • Dorinda Drake
    • Barbara Bland-Acosta
    • Darryl Lewis
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 85User reviews
    • 121Critic reviews
    • 96Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 66 wins & 43 nominations total

    Videos8

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:59
    Official Trailer
    Official Teaser Trailer
    Trailer 1:02
    Official Teaser Trailer
    Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
    Trailer 2:02
    Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
    The Most Anticipated Movies and Shows to Stream in July 2021
    Clip 3:41
    The Most Anticipated Movies and Shows to Stream in July 2021
    Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
    Clip 1:56
    Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
    Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
    Clip 1:11
    Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
    Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
    Featurette 2:57
    Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)

    Photos38

    The 5th Dimension in Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (2021)
    Mahalia Jackson and Mavis Staples in Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (2021)
    B.B. King in Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (2021)
     Gladys Knight: May 28
    Questlove at an event for The Oscars (2022)
    Questlove at an event for The Oscars (2022)
    Questlove, Robert Fyvolent, Joseph Patel, and David Dinerstein at an event for The Oscars (2022)
    Questlove, Robert Fyvolent, Joseph Patel, and David Dinerstein at an event for The Oscars (2022)
    Questlove, Robert Fyvolent, Joseph Patel, and David Dinerstein at an event for The Oscars (2022)
    Robert Fyvolent and David Dinerstein at an event for Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (2021)
    Questlove, Joshua L. Pearson, and Robert Fyvolent at an event for Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (2021)
    Questlove (/name/nm0859821) at The IMDb Portrait Studio at the 2022 Film Independent Spirit Awards

    Top cast

    Edit
    Dorinda Drake
    Dorinda Drake
    • Self - Festival Attendeeas Self - Festival Attendee
    Barbara Bland-Acosta
    Barbara Bland-Acosta
    • Self - Festival Attendeeas Self - Festival Attendee
    Darryl Lewis
    Darryl Lewis
    • Self - Festival Attendeeas Self - Festival Attendee
    Ethel Beatty
    Ethel Beatty
    • Self - Festival Attendeeas Self - Festival Attendee
    Al Sharpton
    Al Sharpton
    • Self - Minister & Activistas Self - Minister & Activist
    • (as Reverend Al Sharpton)
    Allen Zerkin
    Allen Zerkin
    • Self - Former Assistant to Tony Lawrenceas Self - Former Assistant to Tony Lawrence
    Margot Edman
    Margot Edman
    • Self - Festival Production Assistantas Self - Festival Production Assistant
    Alan Leeds
    Alan Leeds
    • Self - Music Manager & Executiveas Self - Music Manager & Executive
    Cyril 'Bullwhip' Innis Jr.
    Cyril 'Bullwhip' Innis Jr.
    • Self - Black Panther Partyas Self - Black Panther Party
    Hal Tulchin
    Hal Tulchin
    • Self - Director & Producer, Harlem Cultural Festival 1969as Self - Director & Producer, Harlem Cultural Festival 1969
    Musa Jackson
    Musa Jackson
    • Self - Festival Attendeeas Self - Festival Attendee
    Billy Davis Jr.
    Billy Davis Jr.
    • Self - The 5th Dimensionas Self - The 5th Dimension
    Marilyn McCoo
    Marilyn McCoo
    • Self - The 5th Dimensionas Self - The 5th Dimension
    Adrienne Kryor
    Adrienne Kryor
    • Self - The Edwin Hawkins Singersas Self - The Edwin Hawkins Singers
    Greg Tate
    Greg Tate
    • Self - Writer & Musicianas Self - Writer & Musician
    Charlayne Hunter-Gault
    Charlayne Hunter-Gault
    • Self - Former Reporter, The New York Timesas Self - Former Reporter, The New York Times
    Jesse Jackson
    Jesse Jackson
    • Self - Minister & Activistas Self - Minister & Activist
    • (as Reverend Jesse Jackson)
    Gladys Knight
    Gladys Knight
    • Self - Musicianas Self - Musician
    • Director
      • Questlove
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

    More like this

    Attica
    7.5
    Attica
    Ascension
    7.0
    Ascension
    Flee
    8.0
    Flee
    Writing with Fire
    7.3
    Writing with Fire
    The Queen of Basketball
    7.2
    The Queen of Basketball
    The Long Goodbye
    7.2
    The Long Goodbye
    Audible
    6.7
    Audible
    The Eyes of Tammy Faye
    6.6
    The Eyes of Tammy Faye
    Drive My Car
    7.6
    Drive My Car
    On My Mind
    6.6
    On My Mind
    The Windshield Wiper
    6.8
    The Windshield Wiper
    Lead Me Home
    6.3
    Lead Me Home

    Storyline

    Edit
    SUMMER OF SOUL is 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 100 miles south of Woodstock, The Harlem Cultural Festival was filmed in Mount Morris Park (now Marcus Garvey Park). The footage was never seen and 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 never-before-seen concert performances by Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Sly and the Family Stone, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Mahalia Jackson, B.B. King, The 5th Dimension, and more. —Searchlight Pictures
    • concert
    • festival
    • reference to the moon landing
    • outdoor concert
    • mount morris park harlem manhattan new york city
    • 28 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Documentary
      • Music
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated PG-13 for some disturbing images, smoking and brief drug material.
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The Harlem Cultural Festival comprised six concerts that took place between June 29 and August 24, 1969, in Marcus Garvey Park (at the time, Mount Morris Park), and attracted a combined in-person audience of 300,000.
    • Goofs
      The subtitle, "When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised," is incorrect. In 1969, the year the Harlem Cultural Festival concerts took place, two TV specials about them were shown: July 28, 1969 on CBS (while the concerts were still taking place) and September 16, 1969 on ABC.
    • Quotes

      Sly Stone: Don't wait for approval from your neighbor, because your neighbor might be waiting for you.

    • Crazy credits
      There is a scene after the end credits featuring Stevie Wonder and his band leader bantering back and forth on stage.
    • Connections
      Featured in CBS News Sunday Morning: Episode #43.26 (2021)
    • Soundtracks
      Drum Solo
      Written by Stevie Wonder

      Performed by Stevie Wonder

      Published by Jobete Music Co. Inc. on behalf of itself and Black Bull Music

      Licensed courtesy of Wonder Productions, Inc.

      Steve Wonder appears courtesy of Wonder Productions, Inc.

    User reviews85

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Great film
    I hope this movie inspires someone to put out a DVD set (or streaming) of performances from this festival. The performance clips we get are generally fantastic (do wonder if that was the only BB King tape surviving because his clip is a bit of a mess). Overall I think the interviews and historical context descriptions give great insight into the period and circumstances of the festival which deepen the film.

    I haven't been so moved by a film in a long time.
    helpful•29
    4
    • mmbruns
    • Jul 5, 2021

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 2, 2021 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Summer of Soul
    • Filming locations
      • Mount Morris Park, Harlem, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Mass Distraction Media
      • RadicalMedia
      • Vulcan Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $2,320,649
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $802,054
      • Jul 5, 2021
    • Gross worldwide
      • $3,702,662
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 58 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1

    Related news

    Emmy Predictions: Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special
    Emmy Predictions: Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special
    May 23Indiewire
    Abortion Activists Depicted in ‘The Janes’ Sound Alarm About Possible Roe v. Wade Overturn: ‘It’s Going to Be Horrible’
    Abortion Activists Depicted in ‘The Janes’ Sound Alarm About Possible Roe v. Wade Overturn: ‘It’s Going to Be Horrible’
    May 20Variety Film + TV

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Mavis Staples in Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (2021)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (2021) officially released in India in Hindi?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The Best Movies and Shows to Watch in May
    See the full list
    Image caption not available
    2:14
    The Most Anticipated Movies and Shows to Watch in May
    Watch the video

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.