SLY LIVES! (aka the Burden of Black Genius) Sundance Review — Questlove One-Ups Himself with an Exquisite Music Documentary

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Afterwinning the Oscar for Best Documentaryfor his feature debut,Summer of Soul, Amir “Questlove” Thompson is returning to filmmaking with his sophomore feature,SLY LIVES! (aka the Burden of Black Genius). While the concept behind his second film might seem like a more straightforward biography, Questlove brings such a refreshingly deep approach to his subject that the result is utterly fantastic.

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SLY LIVES! (aka the Burden of Black Genius)Review

SLY LIVES!tells the story of Sly and the Family Stone — one of the most influential groups of all time in Black music history and music history as a whole. Questlove already got a taste of Sly and the Family Stone’s story inSummer of Soul, ending his first film with their performance at the Harlem Cultural Festival, but in this film, he dives deep into the group and its frontman’s story and legacy.

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Given that Questlove is a musician himself, he has an innate and intimate understanding of how to create music. This translates into some fascinating behind-the-scenes insight into both Stone’s creative process and the many artists whose work was influenced by the Family Stone. One of the most awe-inspiring scenes in the film sees them break down each instrument’s track of the iconic song “Dance to the Music.” Even if you are a fan of Sly and the Family Stone, this sequence will give you an entirely different perspective and appreciation of their work.

And while this is a great, fun music documentary,The Burden of Black Genius’s central thesis allows it to ascend beyond the tropes of the genre. In the film, Questlove interrogates the role that Stone played as a role model not just for Black musicians but also for Black society as a whole. It’s a fascinating angle through which to explore celebrity, coming from a perspective that is all too often ignored by the mainstream.

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It’s also impressive how vulnerableSLY LIVES!gets when it comes to telling Stone’s story. Although Questlove clearly admires Stone and the influence he has had on music, this film isn’t blind adulation. It’s willing to engage with his complexities and flaws but also succeeds in doing so without playing into the sensationalism that depictions of flawed artists often suffer from.

What makes this even more impressive, though, is that the film doesn’t feature any modern-day interviews with Sly himself, but he’s a very reclusive figure these days, so this shouldn’t be surprising. Still, there’s a wealth of archive interviews from his heyday that make it feel like his perspective is heard.

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In terms of modern-day interviewees, Questlove has assembled a great crew of people to talk about the band and its legacy. Of course, many of the former members of the band contribute their input, and these talking heads achieve a good balance of nostalgic anecdotes and insightful reflection on their work and legacy. Questlove also interviews several modern artists whose work was influenced by Sly and the Family Stone, including André 3000, Chaka Khan, and George Clinton, to name a few. However, whereasSummer of Soulfelt somewhat indulgent in this regard, these interviews contribute meaningfully toSLY LIVES!

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None of this success would have been possible without the film’s true MVP, editor Joshua L. Pearson. Documentary films — particularly music documentaries — are all about rhythm, and Pearson and Questlove infuseSLY LIVES!with so much soul and energy. Even at over an hour and fifty minutes long, this documentary moves thanks to a combination of its incredible soundtrack and its skillful use of montage to advance the narrative.

IsSLY LIVES!worth watching?

SLY LIVES! (aka the Burden of Black Genius)feels like the natural evolution of Questlove’s filmmaking style from his debut. It’s more insightful and impactful while retaining the same level of fun and energy that he brought to his first film. The result is a documentary that is not just a wonderful tribute to a fantastic artist but also an incredible film in its own right.

SLY LIVES! (aka the Burden of Black Genius)is screening at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, which runs January 22-February 2 in Park City and Salt Lake City, UT, and January 30-February 2 online.

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