Soul Summit: Doin' It in the Park

The documentary film is an account of the Soul Summit that has been taking place in Brooklyn since 2002. Though the frequency of its occurrence has dwindled since its inception close to two decades ago, the statement it aims to make is loud and clear - to be a safe haven for Black and queer expression.

As dance, music and spirituality get intertwined in this space where all identities are not only welcomed, but also celebrated, the narrative further takes us into first hand experiences of the Summit attendees. Additionally, it manages to be an insightful glimpse into a realm that is marked by its independence of voice and the assertion of a coloured landscape in a gentrified neighbourhood. There is also the endeavour to engage with culture appropriation, the demand for a rightful space often denied to people of colour and minorities and the ease that is intrinsic to such an event or physical area, where people are truly allowed to be who they are, away from a world of oppression of several forms.

At the heart of the film, thus, also lies an implicit plea to nurture and preserve these identities, especially in a world where conversations around race, sexuality and identity are increasingly making their presence felt. However it is presented employing a tone which is not despondent or aggressive, but instead one that involves art, celebration, hope and above all, sincerity and honesty.