The Singing Revolution

Infobox Film
name = The Singing Revolution


image_size =
caption =
director = James Tusty,
Maureen Castle Tusty
producer =
writer = Mike Majoros,
James Tusty,
Maureen Castle Tusty
narrator =
starring =
music = John Kusiak
cinematography = Miguelangel Aponte-Rios
editing = Mike Majoros
distributor = Abramorama
rating =
released = December 2007 (USA)
runtime =
country = USA
language = English
budget =
gross = $327,420 (USA)
(24 August 2008)
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website =
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0954008

"The Singing Revolution" is a documentary film created by James Tusty and Maureen Castle Tusty [cite news
last = ZOLLER SEITZ
first = MATT
title = Songs for a Brighter Tomorrow …
pages =
publisher = The New York Times
date = December 14, 2007
url = http://movies.nytimes.com/2007/12/14/movies/14revo.html
accessdate = ] about the nonviolent Singing Revolution in Estonia where hundreds of thousands of Estonians gathered publicly, between 1986 and 1991, in an effort to end decades of Soviet occupation. The revolutionary songs they created anchored Estonia’s non-violent struggle for freedom. [The Singing Revolution Film. [http://www.singingrevolution.com/cgi-local/content.cgi?pg=3&p=19 The Recent History of Singing Revolution] . Retrieved August 10, 2007.]

Soviet Russian forces invaded Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in 1939, at the beginning of World War II [The Singing Revolution Film. [http://www.singingrevolution.com/cgi-local/content.cgi?pg=3&p=18 The History of the Soviet Occupation of Estonia] . Retrieved August 10, 2007.] . As had happened in Latvia and Lithuania, by the end of the war more than a quarter of the Estonian population had been deported, executed, or had fled the country. During the turbulent decades that followed, music became a powerful unifying force in the Baltic republics, a means of preserving the country’s national identity, as well as a tool for political resistance in the face of cultural genocide.

"The Singing Revolution" documents how, between 1986 and 1991, Estonians courageously and peacefully demanded that the Soviets recognize their country’s right to statehood and self-government. The revolutionary songs they created anchored Estonia’s struggle for freedom, which was ultimately accomplished in 1991 without the loss of a single life. Singing fueled the non-violent revolution that defeated a very violent occupation. [Internet Movie Database. [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0954008 The Singing Revolution] . Retrieved August 10, 2007.]

Combining interviews of movement leaders and Estonian citizens with rare archival footage from the period of Soviet occupation, "The Singing Revolution" accounts one small nation’s dramatic rebirth alongside its neighbors Latvia and Lithuania where similar events took place.

External links

* [http://singingrevolution.com The Singing Revolution Film Official Web Site]
* [http://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/17267/ Film Review, The Baltic Times]
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0954008/ Film Review, IMDb.com]
* [http://www.connectsavannah.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A3281 Film Review, Connect Savannah]
* [http://www.pitch.com/2007-09-13/film/the-horror/ Film Review, The Pitch]
* [http://news.yahoo.com/s/uc/20071102/cm_uc_crbbox/op_234287 "The Singing Revolution" Celebrates Freedom]
* [http://jasoncherniak.blogspot.com/2007/10/estonia-and-singing-revolution.html Film Review, Cherniak's Blog]
* [http://www.townhall.com/columnists/BrentBozellIII/2007/11/02/the_singing_revolution_celebrates_freedom "The Singing Revolution" Celebrates Freedom] by Brent Bozell, November 2, 2007
* [http://www.biff1.com/BIFF2008.HTML Boulder International Film Festival 2008 awards] "The Singing Revolution" wins "Most Inspirational Film" award

References