Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (2021, dir. Amir "Questlove" Thompson) - review by Rookie-Critic
Summer of Soul (...or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) was pure joy. It shines a light on what was a monumental event and what should have been something that every person in America heard about growing up, just like we heard about Woodstock. This is a historic and cultural milestone that's finally getting the recognition it so rightfully deserves. With footage from the event that had never seen the light of day until this film lovingly curated by Questlove and mixed with interviews of the performers and attendees that were actually there, Summer of Soul accentuates the well-known excellence of black music and black people, their tenacity, resilience, and constant strength in the face of constant backlash and oppression.
Score: 10/10
Currently available for streaming on Hulu & Disney+.
Watching Summer of Soul is the first time I'm hearing reactions (specifically the reactions of black people) to the moon landing that drew the connection with and critiqued the priorities of space exploration with regard to material suffering on the planet. And this is not to say we can't have both, advances in science for nothing more than the love of it and the endless curiosity and questions and passion are not antithetical to clothing and housing and feeding and all other care needed for a good life but there is a connection between why we have one and not the other, why one can have these glorious expeditions and have no food the next day
the lack of misogyny in heartstopper is so fucking refreshing. all of the girls in the show just LOVE each other. no jealousy. no cattiness. no competitiveness. elle, tara, darcy, imogen, and sahar are all just vibing together. in a world where literally every single tv show has women being pitted against each other, it makes me so happy to see full love, solidarity, and support amongst these leading ladies.
BTW “no, look at me, i love you. you’re all i bloody think about. dream about. you’re in my gut, in my throat. i’m drowning in you, summers. i’m drowning in you.” “i know you’ll never love me. i know i’m a monster but you treat me like a man.” “but i want you to know i did save you. not when it counted, of course, but after that. every night after that. i’d see it all again. [..] every night I save you.” “you know you got a willing slave […] i follow you like a man possessed.” “i wanted to give you what you deserve, and i got it. they put the spark in me and now all it does is burn.” “why does a man do what he mustn't? for her. to be hers. to be the kind of man who would never... to be a kind of man. and she shall look on him with forgiveness, and everybody will forgive and love. he will be loved. so everything’s ok, right? can we rest now? buffy, can we rest?” “i’ve done things with you i can’t spell, but i’ve never been that close.. to anyone, least of all you. until last night. all i did last night was hold you and watch you sleep. it was the best night of my life." “i’m not asking you for anything: when i say i love you, it's not because i want you, or because i can't have you. it has nothing to do with me. i love what you are. what you do. how you try. i’ve seen your kindness, and your strength. i’ve seen the best and the worst of you, and i understand, with perfect clarity, exactly what you are.” IF YOURE EVEN LISTENING. IF YOU EVEN CARE.