Once Upon a Time in Harlem

A decade after his death, genre-defying filmmaker William Greaves has one last trick up his sleeve with the most important event he captured on film: a 1972 party he masterminded with the living luminaries of the Harlem Renaissance. This extraordinary group—many of whom had not seen each other in 50 years—reminisce, critique, argue, laugh, and drink while wrestling with their place in a rapidly shifting cultural landscape.

Originally shot on 16mm film, and directed by Greaves’ son David, this landmark film is an inquiry into the heart of the critical mass of energy called the Harlem Renaissance. William Greaves’ intent was not only to document these artists and intellectuals as they speak about their work, but also to plumb the meaning of the extraordinary period in which they lived to help us understand how culture passes from one generation to another, and the role that the artist plays in keeping it alive.