TIFF: Soul Power
Thursday September 4th was the official kick off for the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival and it was evident. Red carpets line the streets of Toronto, from Yorkville to Roy Thompson Hall extending from the hotel entrances, outside of the most posh restaurants and stores. SUV’s with tinted windows and rims so shiny you would think they absorbed a camera’s flash zoom up and down the street carrying the silver screen stars from their various premieres and parties, camera’s flash from pockets outside theatres and fans linger near the hotels and of course, the city’s cinemas are playing the most buzz worthy films from both independent film makers and trailblazing directors.
This was the scene I walked through as I made my way up to the screening of “Soul Power”. To get me in the moods as I walked up Yonge Street I cranked my iPod and tuned into my playlist built specially for tonight that featured all the old school R&B I had in my iTunes…which truthfully wasn’t much. Featuring the killer tunes of James Brown, The Spinners, Little Richard and Elvis among others, my playlist got me there and got me ready to see the film all about a three day music festival that took place in Kinshasha in 1974.
I’d like to think I’m fairly on top of my music history, but to be completely honest, I had no idea about this festival. Created by Hugh Masekela and Stewart Levine, the festival assembled all the big names in R&B at the time and was held to parallel the boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman known as the “Rumble in the Jungle.” What a cool band name would that be?
The magical thing about this film, for me, was how it actually took you on stage with performance footage. There’s something so…thrilling about performances from musical trailblazers.
Overall I would say that this was a great film. “Soul Power” showcases a vital piece of musical history (and history in general) that I was previously unaware of and married it beautifully with music that shaped a generation. This film was entertaining, but also a great reflection of the time and how music expressed and embodied the temperament.
This film was a two and a half year labour of love according to the film’s director Jeffrey Levy-Hinte. That is clearly evident in the final product. Apparently a lot of killer footage ended up on the cutting room floor, which has created the option of a special DVD release and box set (or so I was informed).
If you missed this screening, have no fear!! It’s showing again Saturday September 6th and then again on Saturday Sept 13th.
