Synopsis

In 1974, the most celebrated American R&B acts of the time came together with the most renowned musical groups in Southern Africa for a 12-hour, three-night long concert held in Kinshasa, Zaire. The dream-child of Hugh Masekela and Stewart Levine, this music festival became a reality when they convinced boxing promoter Don King to combine the event with ‘The Rumble in the Jungle,’ the epic fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, previously chronicled in the Academy Award-winning documentary When We Were Kings. Soul Power is a verité documentary about this legendary music festival (dubbed ‘Zaire ‘74’), and it depicts the experiences and performances of such musical luminaries as James Brown, BB King, Bill Withers, Celia Cruz, among a host of others. At the peak of their talents and the height of their careers, these artists were inspired by this return to their African roots, as well as the enthusiasm of the Zairian audience, to give the performances of their lives. The concert has achieved mythological significance as the definitive Africa(n)-American musical event of the 20th Century. Soul Power is crafted from the extensive ‘outtakes’ that remained after making When We Were Kings, which documented the epic title fight, but relegated the music festival to a small, supporting role. The ‘outtakes’ have remained vaulted for the past 34 years, until now. Lensed primarily by celebrated cinematographers Albert Maysles, Paul Goldsmith, Kevin Keating and Roderick Young, Soul Power finally provides today’s audience the opportunity to experience this historic musical event in all of its magnificent, filmed glory.

감독

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  • 제프리 레비-힌트
  • 뉴욕에 자리 잡은 Antidote Films의 대표이기도 한 제프리 레비-힌트의 최근작으로는 2008년 토론토영화제에서 상영된 <소울 파워>와 <던전마스터>가 있다. 또한 그는 2008년 선댄스영화제와 칸영화제에서 상영된 마리나 제노비치의 다큐멘터리 영화 <로만 폴란스키: 원하거나 욕망하거나>를 제작하기도 했다. 그가 제작한 작품들로는 2006년 토론토영화제에 소개된 호러영화 <마지막 겨울>, 2007년 트라이베카영화제 상영작인 다큐멘터리 영화 <봄 잇>등이 있다.