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Such innocence, such hopeful optimism—such an
abundance of belief that the world was going to change for the
better. That’s how it was during the late summer of 1969, when more
than 300,000 kids from around the country showed up on a dairy farm
in a small upstate town near Woodstock, New York—and that’s exactly
what comes off the screen during the nearly four-hour long
director’s cut of Woodstock, the film.
Not only is this summer the 40th anniversary of
Stonewall, it’s also the 40th anniversary of
Woodstock. That’s right, both Stonewall and Woodstock occurred
during the same summer: two seminal events in the modern-day gay
rights movement—for you have only to see the abundance of A&F
prototypes in the film’s footage to realize what a homo haven were
those three days of peace and music (and sex…) Fingers crossed that
these two anniversaries bode well for the ongoing pursuit of LGBT
equality this summer.
Last night’s joyous benefit screening of the director’s cut of
Woodstock at the Film Society of Lincoln Center jolted the
audience back to a time when performers and musicians had less than
perfect teeth and bodies uncut by health clubs—but oh, what stage
presence, what incredible charisma these people possessed. To see
these legends in the prime of their youth—to witness Joplin’s
performance of “Work Me, Lord” and Canned Heat’s “A Change Is Gonna
Come” and Crosby, Stills and Nash (performing together for only the
second time) singing “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes”—is to recognize anew
the power of music to influence entire cultures. What the film
captures so beautifully are cathartic performance pieces,
shamanistic and beatific—see Alvin Lee of Ten Years After performing
“I’m Going Home” and Joe Cocker’s “With A Little Help From My
Friends” as well as Sly Stone’s “I Want To Take You Higher.” This
is music as a conduit of collective euphoria and aesthetic
mesmerization and the film serves as a touching reminder of a time
in American history when youth came together and united in love.
Let’s hope for a repeat performance this summer: when youth unites
for LGBT equality and the Woodstock Generation births the Love
Generation.
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