Once Upon a Time in Harlem sees a son in an enviable position, taking the footage his father shot of a meeting of African-American luminaries and artists. These artists come from the Harlem Renaissance period of the 1920s and ’30s, while those who are no longer living have their legacies spoken about by peers, family, and friends. The result is a four-hour-long party cut into a beautiful homemade documentary, becoming a historical artifact of these people, the time they are speaking about, and the ever-evolving dynamics between African-American thinkers, their own work, and their contemporaries.

What strikes you immediately is just how nice the footage looks, especially for a ’70s film almost made on a whim. William Greaves, the man who arranged the party and the camera crew, does an excellent job formally capturing the conversations. He also used some really nice, high-quality filmmaking that captures the faces, colours, and facial expressions of everyone there with crystal-clear quality. There is personality and humanity behind the camera, and you can tell that everyone speaking cares very much about their choice of words and is passionate about what they are saying. But they are not saying it for the camera. They are sharing their words and opinions with each other.

The feeling of this film is that Greaves has assembled a unique family. A family of people who witnessed a number of different artists, musicians, poets, writers, and prominent political figures create revolutionary, impactful works. At its base, it is a very interesting history lesson. There’s much discussion about how Harlem was a refuge compared to the rest of America at that time, when incidents like lynchings and riots were still prominent across American communities. These people lived through this period. One man, considered the elder statesman, is a 96-year-old actor who shares prominent memories of growing up during this time, moving from the South to New York to perform in shows. We also learn about the drama and breakthroughs surrounding newly developed magazines that gave people opportunities to get published.

The key tension of the film is who gets to define this era, who knows it best, and who must be mentioned as an important figure. There’s almost a debate constantly happening. No one can settle on an exact definition or canon for what the Harlem Renaissance is. It means something slightly different to each person, as does the question of who is important and whose perspective matters.

One big issue addressed is terminology. Do you call it Black art? Do you call it African-American art? Or do you just call it art? Do you call these figures artists, or do you call them Black artists? It’s a subject dealt with specifically in an article by one of the prominent members of the Renaissance.

Another interesting question confronted is the natural disconnect for writers working in a language that does not necessarily belong to them. For African Americans, English was forced upon them through slavery and their displacement to America. For Africans living in America, there is an easier translation for artists working in visual media and music.

The answers to these questions are the moving point, the soul of the film, as we see each of these figures give their strong answers with confidence. They don’t all agree, but they are able to share their perspectives and hear each other out. It’s a wonderful display of academic and artistic discourse. It is now rare to see this kind of discussion take place, making the existence of this footage all the more remarkable.

The filmmaking team does a great job cutting around these conversations, and the interviews with different figures highlight the importance of this history. You don’t get specific answers or catharsis from watching this, but you’re invigorated by what you’re hearing, even as everyone remains committed to their own point of view. No one here is trying to teach us a specific philosophy for how we should view the art they are discussing. Rather, we simply get to see and hear what they have to say about this time.

Once Upon a Time in Harlem is in theatres on October 23rd, 2026.