2019 Film Festival
film synopsis
Over two nights in 1972, in New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles, Aretha Franklin recorded what would become the best-selling gospel record in history, Amazing Grace. This electrifying event, featuring the Reverend James Cleveland and the Southern California Community Choir, and performed before a live audience, was filmed by Sydney Pollack. For a host of reasons both technical and legal, it sat unseen in the Warner Bros. vaults for more than 40 years. Now this historic document has been lovingly restored, and it is a roof-raising musical and spiritual experience. Returning to her roots in the church, Aretha was at the peak of her powers. In one transcendent performance after another (you will never hear renditions of Amazing Grace or Never Grow Old to surpass these), Aretha demonstrated why she reigned as the Queen of Soul.