I went into this with my expectations high because of what the British film critic Mark Kermode said about this film . He said that it's the best music documentary he's ever seen.
Yet again I have to disagree with him .
Over the course of six weeks during the summer of 1969, thousands of people attend the Harlem Cultural Festival to celebrate Black history, culture, music and fashion.
Despite disagreeing with Kermode I really admired this film .
Considering it was locked up in a room for 50 years and never been played it's remarkable the quality of the footage and especially the sound .
I have to admit I was disappointed with the line ups. Stevie Wonder is one of my favourite singers of all time and to see him playing live at 19 years of age was great but that was the highlight .
It was far too gospel for my taste but again, the footage was great and it wasn't geared up for someone like me.
There was lots of civil rights footage which we've all see before to give the film some perspective and interviews with surviving acts and audience members .
I felt that the structure of the film didn't quite work. It was shot as if it was one concert when in fact it was weeks of concerts and that never came across. Also i could have done without the talking heads.
I was six months old when The Harlem Music Festival was on at the same time as Woodstock which was a hundred miles away but I know , if I was an adult back then , where I would rather have been and that's Harlem.
Yet again I have to disagree with him .
Over the course of six weeks during the summer of 1969, thousands of people attend the Harlem Cultural Festival to celebrate Black history, culture, music and fashion.
Despite disagreeing with Kermode I really admired this film .
Considering it was locked up in a room for 50 years and never been played it's remarkable the quality of the footage and especially the sound .
I have to admit I was disappointed with the line ups. Stevie Wonder is one of my favourite singers of all time and to see him playing live at 19 years of age was great but that was the highlight .
It was far too gospel for my taste but again, the footage was great and it wasn't geared up for someone like me.
There was lots of civil rights footage which we've all see before to give the film some perspective and interviews with surviving acts and audience members .
I felt that the structure of the film didn't quite work. It was shot as if it was one concert when in fact it was weeks of concerts and that never came across. Also i could have done without the talking heads.
I was six months old when The Harlem Music Festival was on at the same time as Woodstock which was a hundred miles away but I know , if I was an adult back then , where I would rather have been and that's Harlem.