The singing revolution the primary lesson the movie teaches about estonians is that they are a mild, pleasant people, even when faced with foreign invasion and governmental repression. Here are some details the singing revolution comes in either a singledisc version or a 3disc dvd set with scads of additional features, including extensive interviews with many of the documentarys subjects. A nation who makes its revolution by singing and smiling, wrote estonian artist heinz valk in 1988, should be a sublime example to all. The singing revolution is a documentary film created by james tusty and maureen castle tusty about the nonviolent. We not only were amazed by the story itself, we were amazed that we knew virtually nothing about it. The singing revolution was so named because balts identified songs as the unifying symbol and nonviolent weapon of choice in the struggle for national selfdetermination. Indeed, what a film like the singing revolution reminds us is that, unlike life in america, the threat of overthrow by an imperialistic or theocratic system is typically a political campaign away. The interviews are organized by topic to make their use in the classroom very easy. The singing revolution film shares how, between 1987 and 1991, hundreds of thousands of estonians gathered publicly to sing forbidden patriotic songs and share protest speeches, risking their lives to proclaim their desire for independence as seen in theaters across north america, then on public broadcasting and in schools and universities across the country. The singing revolution shares how, between 1987 and 1991, hundreds of thousands of estonians gathered publicly to sing forbidden patriotic songs and share. Meanwhile, whoever comes the closest to predicting the films opening 3day weekend box office friday to sunday, without going under, will also win 199 lives on dvd and the big jump in hardcover, as well as the singing revolution in hardcover.
Well have it back up and running as soon as possible. The singing revolution and the future of music in estonia. Returning to his filmmaker roots with sky films, jim and maureen released their first feature film, the singing revolution, in 2008, which was compared to casablanca by the new york times, and later was cited by the times as one of five maverick films that were changing the independent film industry due to their creative distribution plan. The singing revolution traces the history of estonia and the baltic region from its very roots between 5,000 to 8,000 years ago through to the singing revolution. The singing revolution remains a tense account of estonias breakaway from the soviet union, and derives some of its power from not being an ofttold story in the global media. The most recent home video release of the singing revolution movie is october 10, 2008. Returning to his filmmaker roots with sky films, jim and maureen released their first feature film, the singing revolution, in 2008, which was compared to. The nations darkest chapter, though, dawned in 1939 with the arrival of the soviets. The estonians had, for over 100 years, music festivals with 25,000 people onstage singing estonian cultural songs. The singing revolution narrates the remarkable story of this tiny nation. Rent the singing revolution 2006 on dvd and bluray. The singing revolution 2007 stream and watch online. The singing revolution is a 2006 documentary film created by americans james tusty and maureen castle tusty about the nonviolent singing revolution in.
The singing revolution is the incredible documentary story of estonia, a small country that, united by their 100yearold love of singing, stood against the villainous soviet union. The singing revolution was a unique 4year confluence of world events, strategic political moves and an entire nation standing up for itself. Inspired by the real history of the estonian revolution against the soviet union, our hero leads his fellow countrymen to freedom through the power of song. The singing revolution tells the moving and dramatic story of how the estonian people strategically, willfully, sung their way to freedomand helped.
Estonias singing revolution a longstanding tradition among estonians, singing festivals served an important role in the countrys struggle for independence from the soviet union. Bestor cram, james tusty, maureen castle tusty, mike majoros. The singing revolution tells the moving and dramatic story of how the estonian people strategically, willfully, sung their way to freedomand helped topple an empire along the way. Estonians gathered in the thousands and eventually hundreds of thousands to celebrate their heritage in song, in what became known as the singing revolution. Patience may not the most exciting movie subject, but the singing. The documentary the singing revolution chronicles this extraordinary yet. Singing revolution is a contemporary musical with a europop score.
Its the story of heinz tamm, the leader of a resistance movement, who falls in love with the daughter of his enemy. The singing revolution is an inspiring account of one nations dramatic rebirth. The singing revolution narrates the remarkable story of this tiny nations struggle for independence, illuminating how the estonians kept their identity alive even under the oppressive weight of the iron curtain through a rich tradition of song. Official trailer from life is my movie entertainment on vimeo. A revolution in fourpart harmony is a soulstirring documentary that uses exclusive interviews and rare, neverbeforeseen film.
It tells of the conquests that germans, danes, swedes, poles and russians had over the country and the many hands that this small nation passed through over the centuries. Beginning in the mid1980s, estonians began taking advantage of their unique and rich cultural tradition, particularly in choral music, to encourage a national reawakening. During the singing revolution, large groups of people managed to organize for independence under the guise of gathering to sing. The real singing revolution started in 1988, when performing patriotic songs at mass events became usual. The singing revolution critics consensus an inspiring true story, the singing revolution proves the pressure for political change can be induced through any number of surprising and nonviolent.
The singing revolution is a documentary feature about the nonviolent singing revolution in estonia in which hundreds of thousands of estonians gathered publicly in an effort to end decades of soviet occupation. Most people dont think about singing when they think about revolutions. The singing revolution documents how the estonian people regained their freedom and helped topple the soviet union along the way. A small country with a large and rich history, the republic of estonia is one of the three baltic countries, along with lithuania and latvia, to have suffered. The singing revolution did not alone cause the collapse of the soviet union, but it played a very significant, if little known, role that we document in the film. Its a powerful story of a nation that, almost literally, sang its way to freedom. The singing revolution, a documentary by james tusty and maureen castle tusty about estonias struggle to. Watch soundtrack for a revolution full movie free online. The singing revolution is a 2006 documentary film created by americans james tusty and maureen castle tusty about the nonviolent singing revolution in estonia in which hundreds of thousands of estonians gathered publicly between 1986 and 1991, in an effort to end decades of soviet occupation. The singing revolution is the sort of film that should be shown to north american school children or anyone else who takes his freedom for granted.
The intersection of ethnic nationalism and people power tactics in the baltic states, 198791. The singing revolution is the first film to tell this historically vital tale. We learned of the singing revolution while teaching filmmaking at an estonian university in 1999. But song was the weapon of choice when estonians sought to free themselves from decades of soviet occupation. It seemed this time that the estonian nation might vanish completely.
It is the story of humankinds irrepressible drive for freedom and selfdetermination. The singing revolution shows how, between 1987 and 1991. The revolutionary songs they created anchored estonias nonviolent struggle for freedom. The singing revolution, an oldschool documentary providing a blowbyblow account of a baltic nations suffering under soviet and german occupation in the 20th century, is a forceful if. Rent the singing revolution 2006 starring linda hunt and heiki ahonen on dvd and bluray. A fresh and exhilarating take on one of the most important social movements in american history, soundtrack for a revolution explores the civil rights struggle through the powerful and stirring songs that inspired a generation. The singing revolution shares how, between 1987 and 1991, hundreds of thousands of estonians gathered publicly to sing forbidden patriotic songs and share protest speeches, risking their lives to proclaim their desire for independence. Laar, a singing revolution leader featured in the film and the first postsoviet prime. Estonias coveted position between europe and russia has lured wave after wave of occupiers. Most people dont think about singing when they think about revolution. Estonian people talk of music inspiring their push for independence. Estonias singing revolution travel smithsonian magazine. This year can also be taken as the peak year of the singing revolution and its summer months have, due to peoples political activity and patriotic enthusiasm, retrospectively been.