Watch Creating Woodstock

Creating Woodstock is a 2019 documentary film that takes you on a journey back in time to the summer of 1969, when some of the greatest musicians of all time came together for the iconic Woodstock music festival. The documentary is narrated by director and co-producer Mick Richards, who provides fascinating insights into how the festival came together and what it meant to the millions of people who took part in it.

The film includes interviews with some of the biggest names in music, such as Arlo Guthrie, Richie Havens, and Henry Diltz. These legends of the music industry recount their personal experiences of the festival and how it affected their careers. They speak candidly about the challenges they faced, both on and off stage, and the incredible energy and sense of community that they felt throughout the entire event.

One of the most striking aspects of Creating Woodstock is the way in which it captures the essence of the festival itself. With stunning archival footage and never-before-seen photographs, the film takes us right into the heart of the action. We see the crowds of young people flooding into the site, the makeshift tents and stalls that sprang up overnight, and the amazing scenery that surrounded the festival.

But the film is more than just a nostalgic trip down memory lane. It also provides a fascinating insight into the social and political context of the time. The late 60s was a period of great upheaval in the United States, with the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War, and the counterculture all having a profound impact on society. Creating Woodstock captures this sense of change and the way in which the festival became a symbol of a new, more liberal era.

Throughout the film, we see how the Woodstock festival was an expression of the era's countercultural spirit. It was a gathering of like-minded individuals who sought to push back against the status quo and create a new way of living. The festival was a celebration of peace, love, and harmony, and its message was heard around the world.

Creating Woodstock provides an extensive behind-the-scenes look at the festival's organization. We see how a new team was brought in to take over the planning for the festival with just a few weeks before it started. They faced all kinds of logistical problems and had barely any resources to work with, but through determination and creativity, they managed to pull it off.

The film also explores some of the lesser-known details about the festival, such as the massive traffic jams that occurred on the roads leading up to it and how locals in the area were initially resistant to the influx of outsiders. Creating Woodstock highlights how the festival's success was largely down to its DIY approach, which allowed for maximum flexibility and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances.

Overall, Creating Woodstock is a fascinating and comprehensive documentary that provides a truly immersive experience for anyone interested in the history of music, the counterculture and the changing social and political climate of the late 60s. With its stunning visuals and insightful interviews, the film manages to capture the true spirit of the Woodstock festival and the way in which it became an iconic moment in American history.

Creating Woodstock is a 2019 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 50 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.7.