Profound and joyful, Questlove’s documentary attempts to redress that erasure.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Sep 23, 2024

As with the best films, Questlove's narrative is shrouded in mystery, while leaving an emotional resonance that won't be soon forgotten.

| Jul 11, 2022

Despite being a first feature, Summer of Soul concisely balances performance, interview, and history in its own rhythmic fashion.

| Aug 3, 2021

Summer of Soul is both a tribute to the artists and, just as importantly, their audience -- which is what makes it not just a great concert film but a great documentary, period.

| Original Score: 4.5/5 | Aug 2, 2021

The incendiary stars of the Harlem Cultural Festival of 1969 erupt into life in this extraordinary documentary culled from comprehensive footage that's been abandoned and unseen for 50 years.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Jul 20, 2021

Summer of Soul features stunning, irresistible footage of Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, and an entire roll call of 20th-century Black jazz...

| Jul 19, 2021

Thompson's feature debut intertwines music and politics in one of the best concert movies of all time.

| Original Score: 5/5 | Jul 18, 2021

The documentary of the decade.

| Original Score: 5/5 | Jul 17, 2021

With this bold and imaginative restoration, Summer of Soul puts the marginalisation of black culture at the core of the story.

| Original Score: 5/5 | Jul 15, 2021

It is the film of 2021 so far.

| Original Score: 5/5 | Jul 14, 2021

Sonically flawless, authentically textured and deep-rooted in cultural significance, Summer Of Soul succeeds magnificently in capturing the scale, spiritual resonance and, yes, soul of the Harlem Cultural Festival.

| Original Score: 5/5 | Jul 13, 2021

If Questlove was merely a very good curator... then Summer of Soul would be a worthwhile experience. The fact that he's both a very good curator and storyteller makes it something far greater.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Jul 12, 2021

As a historical document, "Summer of Soul" is stunning; as a documentary, it has some bumps. But the music is always there to take you home.

| Original Score: B | Jul 3, 2021

All of these acts are extraordinary. But the real miracle of Summer of Soul is the audience, vast and varied and nearly all Black...

| Jul 3, 2021

The documentary is a window into the Harlem Culture Festival and discussions of Black history, community and identity in the 60s.

| Original Score: 4/4 | Jul 3, 2021

This is a knockout of a movie featuring precious performance footage that hasn't been seen since 1969. Ahmir Thompson has taken great raw material and shaped it into a memorable documentary that offers entertainment and food for thought at the same time

| Jul 2, 2021

The movie, edited by Joshua Pearson, should take its rightful place among such classic live performance documentaries as Woodstock, Amazing Grace, Monterey Pop, Gospel, T.A.M.I. Show, and Wattstax.

| Original Score: 5/5 | Jul 2, 2021

One of the best things about Summer of Soul is its reminder that the joy of musical community is one of the great human experiences, a unifying truth in more ways than one.

| Jul 2, 2021

Its existence is a testament to Hal Tulchin, to whom the film is dedicated, and to Questlove, who has pulled it all together with immense love and undeniable talent.

| Original Score: 4/4 | Jul 2, 2021

In either case, as a disappeared archive now rightfully platformed, the historic moments that we are finally given access to are absolutely mesmerizing to watch.

| Jul 2, 2021