This film is currently unavailable
Soul Power
James Brown, Sister Sledge and B.B King feature in this stunning concert film, shot during the Ali-Foreman 'Rumble in the Jungle' of 1974.
Director: Jeffrey Levy-Hinte
Overview
Jeffrey Levy-Hinte's stunning documentary captures the incredible three day music festival, 'Zaire 74', that accompanied the biggest boxing event the world had ever seen, Muhammad Ali-George Foreman 'Rumble in the Jungle'. Alongside electrifying performances by James Brown, B.B. King, Bill Withers, Sister Sledge, Miriam Makeba, The Spinners, The Crusaders, and many more, there's also ample footage of Ali and the circus surrounding the big fight, all captured in vérité by a host of great cameramen including Albert Maysles.
Comprised from the same stock of footage used for Leon Gast's Oscar®-winning When We Were Kings (of which Levy-Hinte was the editor), but only finally edited and released over 30 years later due to legal disputes, Soul Power is a canonical concert film to rank alongside Woodstock and Monterey Pop, and also a thrillng celebration of black power during a tumultuous decade.
Related
Rhianna Dhillon's Fresh Starts Rhianna Dhillon's Fresh Starts
Short documentary 2026 11 mins Director: Henry Barnes and Maha Albadrawi
Critic and broadcaster Rhianna Dhillon selects her pick of the films that will help you make a change for 2026.
Desire: The Carl Craig Story Desire: The Carl Craig Story
Documentary 2024 91 mins Director: Jean-Cosme Delaloye
An intimate portrait of legendary techno producer, DJ and record label creator Carl Craig and an ode to his beloved city, Detroit.
Emotion Pictures: Yearning and Repressed Desire in Melodrama Emotion Pictures: Yearning and Repressed Desire in Melodrama
Short documentary 2025 19 mins Director: Maha Albadrawi and Henry Barnes
Writer Nadia M Oliva tracks the development of the melodrama genre and how it plays out across film, TV and online.
Frida Kahlo & Tina Modotti Frida Kahlo & Tina Modotti
Documentary 1983 30 mins Director: Laura Mulvey and Peter Wollen
Immerse yourself in the work of Frida Kahlo and Tina Modotti - icons of the Mexican Renaissance.
Amy! Amy!
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1980 33 mins Director: Laura Mulvey and Peter Wollen
Laura Mulvey and Peter Wollen's essay film commemorating pilot Amy Johnson's pioneering solo flight to Australia in 1930.
Rhianna Dhillon's favourite Coming of Age films Rhianna Dhillon's favourite Coming of Age films
Short documentary 2025 11 mins Director: Maha Albadrawi and Henry Barnes
Rhianna Dhillon selects her favourite Coming of Age films available now on BFI Player.
The Rules of Attraction The Rules of Attraction
Comedy 2002 111 mins Director: Roger Avary
Exuberant adaptation of the Bret Easton Ellis novel, about a group of beautiful, wealthy and self-absorbed students tearing it up at college.
Downfall Downfall
Historical drama 2004 155 mins Director: Oliver Hirschbiegel
Bruno Ganz is extraordinary as Adolf Hitler, living out his final days during the fall of Berlin in Oliver Hirschbiegel's acclaimed drama.
Palindromes Palindromes
Comedy 2004 100 mins Director: Todd Solondz
Todd Solondz’s casting of eight different actors of varying ages, genders and races to play the lead role of Aviva, makes for a truly original film.
Distant Journey Distant Journey
Drama 1949 98 mins Director: Alfréd Radok
Blending documentary and fiction, Alfréd Radok's remarkable film chronicling the Terezin ghetto was one of the first films to address the Holocaust.
Dreamers Dreamers
Drama 2025 79 mins Director: Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor
Two Nigerian migrants dare to imagine a vibrant future outside of their confinement at a British immigration removal centre.
Amélie Amélie
Drama 2001 117 mins Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Audrey Tautou plays the shy waitress whose altruism leads to love, in Jean-Pierre Jeunet's BAFTA-winning hit romance.