Soul Power @ The Detroit Film Theater

From: Detroit Film Theater

SOUL POWER
(USA/2008 – directed by Jeffrey Levy-Hinte)

The now-legendary boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman that took place in Zaire in 1974 (aka the “Rumble in the Jungle”) actually turned out to be two spectacles in one. Complementing the fight was a three-day music festival featuring some of the greatest rhythm and blues talents of all time: James Brown and the Mighty JBs, B.B. King, Bill Withers, the Spinners, Sister Sledge, and the Crusaders, plus world renowned African performers such as Miriam Makeba and Afrisa. And though the concert was designed to coincide with the fight itself, an injury to George Forman caused the match to be pushed back; because of the artists’ commitments, however, the music festival couldn’t be delayed. This historic concert was filmed with a lavish budget and state-of the art techniques, but the footage – assembled or unassembled – has never been unavailable until now, having been mired in legal disputes for the last 35 years. At long last, the knockout feature film version of the event, Soul Power, can be seen, heard, and most of all, felt. A joyous musical celebration as well as a powerful evocation of a particular time and place, Soul Power on the big screen is an experience well worth the three decade wait. (93 min.)

“One of the most energetic music documentaries in years.”
-Melissa Anderson, The Village Voice

July 31 and Aug. 1 @ 7:00 p.m., Aug. 2 @ 2:00 p.m.
Aug. 7 and 8 @ 7:00 and 9:30 p.m., Aug. 9 @ 2:00 and 4:00 p.m.

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