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Bookmark this pageSoul Power (2008)
Director: Jeffrey Levy-Hinte
Movie review
From Time Out London
Arguably the most famous boxing match of all time, originally the Rumble in the Jungle was intended as the centrepiece of a larger celebration of African identity: a three-day festival of music, sport and black pride. Problems in pre-planning meant that the fight was delayed by six weeks, but the event – featuring stars like James Brown and Bill Withers alongside homegrown acts like Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masekela – went ahead as planned.Jeffrey Levy-Hinte’s long overdue documentary was culled from the same footage that produced 1996’s ‘When We Were Kings’, but it’s more than just a companion piece to that Oscar-winning classic. As a historical document, it’s riveting, both as a peek into the heart of dusty, restless 1970s Africa and into the lives of a group of legendary musicians embarking on an uncertain mission. And as a concert film it’s unparalleled: a stunningly photographed, soul-stirring celebration.
Author: Tom Huddleston
Time Out London Issue 2029, July 9 - 15, 2009
Cast & crew
Director: Jeffrey Levy-Hinte
Genre(s): Drama
Rated: 12A
Duration: 92 mins
UK Release: Jul 10 2009
US Release: Jul 10 2009
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