A documentary film about the Afro-American Woodstock concert held in Los Angeles seven years after the Watts riots. Director Mel Stuart mixes footage from the concert with footage of the living conditions in the current-day Watts neighborhood.
Acting
Richard Pryor's raw, unfiltered Watts commentary steals every frame.
Direction
Mel Stuart juxtaposes concert euphoria with stark neighborhood reality.
Score
Isaac Hayes' 18-minute 'Shaft' — the most electrifying live performance captured.
Director
Mel Stuart
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The Wattstax concert was held on the seventh anniversary of the 1965 Watts riots — Stax Records deliberately chose the date as reclamation.
Isaac Hayes' gold chain cape weighed 35 pounds and he performed through a 103° fever; the sweat you see is real exhaustion, not staging.
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