Watch Wattstax

Wattstax is a 1973 concert film documenting the Wattstax music festival, which took place at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on August 20th, 1972. The film is directed by Mel Stuart and produced by the same team that produced the critically acclaimed documentary Woodstock. Wattstax features performances by some of the biggest names in soul and funk music, including The Dramatics, The Staple Singers, Kim Weston, and Isaac Hayes.

The Wattstax music festival was organized by Stax Records in an effort to celebrate the seventh anniversary of the 1965 Watts riots and to promote black pride and unity. The festival was attended by over 100,000 people and was one of the largest events of its kind at the time. Wattstax was one of the first major events to bring together a primarily black audience and an entirely black line-up of musicians, and it remains a landmark moment in the history of African American culture.

The film begins with footage of Los Angeles in the early 1970s, as the city deals with issues of poverty, unemployment, and police brutality. We then see the entrance of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, where tens of thousands of people have gathered for the Wattstax festival. As the musicians begin to play, we see performances by The Staple Singers, who deliver a powerful rendition of "Respect Yourself," a song that would later become an anthem for the Civil Rights movement. We also see the legendary Isaac Hayes, who performs his classic hit "Shaft," as well as his epic rendition of "The Look of Love."

One of the standout performances in the film comes from The Dramatics, a soul group known for their smooth harmonies and stylish stage presence. The group performs a number of their hits, including "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get" and "In the Rain," which features their distinctive falsetto vocals. The film captures the energy and excitement of the crowd, who cheer and dance along with the performances.

Along with the music, Wattstax also features footage of interviews with members of the community, who discuss their experiences living in Los Angeles and the importance of the festival. We hear from a variety of voices, including young people, religious leaders, and community activists, who express their hope for a better future for black Americans.

Overall, Wattstax is a powerful and moving film that captures a moment in time and showcases some of the most talented and influential musicians of the era. The film celebrates the resilience and strength of the African American community, while also shining a light on the struggles and challenges faced by black people in America. It remains an essential document of both the music and the history of the era, and an enduring testament to the power of soul and funk music.

Wattstax is a 1973 music movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 43 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.7 and a MetaScore of 81.