Year: 1973
Duration: 1:49:23
Directed by: Mel Stuart
Actors: The Dramatics, The Staple Singers, Kim Weston
Language: English
Country: USA
Also known as: Sort på hvidt, Wattstax
Description: Whoever had the idea to intercut the concert footage with Richard Pryor basically giving what amounts to a stand-up comedy routine was a fucking genius. It shouldn’t work, but it does so well, mainly because Pryor was just at the top of his game, yet still almost unknown at that time. As good as he is though, the real draw here is the music. Personally speaking, I grew up with most of the performers featured here playing in my house and if you’re a fan of early 70’s Stax performers, this is a must-have. On a personal note, my mother is in this movie (for about 2 seconds) but not at the concert footage. She was part of one of the only black families in Lynwood (which is now an even worse ghetto than Watts) and I guess someone got footage of her and her (then) boyfriend walking down the street. She wasn’t paid or anything, and didn’t find out that she was in it till years later. One final observation: It’s a little startling to see (a rather militant looking) Jesse Jackson with a huge afro and wearing a dashiki. 2 commentary tracks are included. One is with director Mel Stuart. Issac Hayes, and other performers and the other features Public Enemy’s Chuck D. and Stax historian Rob Bowman.
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