Making the Five Heartbeats

In 1990, Robert Townsend defied Hollywood odds with unwavering faith and unrelenting determination to bring his passion project, The Five Heartbeats, to life on the big screen. This documentary chronicles the remarkable journey of a young black writer/director who dared to challenge industry norms and present a new image of African-American people in cinema. With Townsend at the helm, the film tells the story of an inspiring struggle that resulted in a timeless musical drama about the rise and fall of an all-black vocal group in 1960s America.