This seminal documentary, about a series of open-air concerts in Harlem in 1969, interweaves stunning performance footage (rarely seen before) with interviews with musicians and audience members.
The lineup is a pantheon of Black talent, including Stevie Wonder, Sly Stone, the Staple Singers, Mahalia Jackson and many more.
But the film is more than a time capsule. It’s educational and informative–a history lesson in the best sese of the term–and massively entertaining.
It also offers a compelling argument for why film art matters — and what it can do — in times of conflict.
Credit…Searchlight Pictures
