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The Singing Revolution | 94 mins | Documentary | HIstory

A single nation. A million voice. The fall of an empire.

Most people don’t think about singing when thinking about revolutions. But in Estonia song was the weapon of choice when, between 1986 and 1991, Estonians wanted to end decades of Soviet occupation. The Singing Revolution documents how, during these years, hundreds of thousands of Estonians gathered publicly to sing forbidden patriotic songs and to listen to protest speeches, risking their lives to proclaim their desire for independence. The revolutionary songs they created anchored Estonia’s struggle for freedom, which was ultimately accomplished without the loss of a single life. Singing fueled the non-violent revolution that defeated a very violent occupation. The Singing Revolution is an inspiring account of one nation’s dramatic rebirth and an evocation of the sustaining and liberating power of hope.


Director : James Tusty & Maureen Castle Tusty
Writer(s) : Mike Majoros, James Tusty, Maureen Castle Tusty
Star(s) :

Summary
The Singing Revolution
2006
A single nation. A million voice. The fall of an empire.
Most people don’t think about singing when thinking about revolutions. But in Estonia song was the weapon of choice when, between 1986 and 1991, Estonians wanted to end decades of Soviet occupation. The Singing Revolution documents how, during these years, hundreds of thousands of Estonians gathered publicly to sing forbidden patriotic songs and to listen to protest speeches, risking their lives to proclaim their desire for independence. The revolutionary songs they created anchored Estonia’s struggle for freedom, which was ultimately accomplished without the loss of a single life. Singing fueled the non-violent revolution that defeated a very violent occupation. The Singing Revolution is an inspiring account of one nation’s dramatic rebirth and an evocation of the sustaining and liberating power of hope.
94
Documentary
https://singingrevolution.com/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0954008/
Details
Most people don’t think about singing when thinking about revolutions. But in Estonia song was the weapon of choice when Estonians sought to free themselves from decades of Soviet occupation. Few people know the crucial role one of the world’s smallest nations played in bringing about the downfall of the Soviet Union. Soviet forces invaded Estonia in 1939, at the beginning of World War II. By the end of the war, more than a quarter of the Estonian population had been deported, been executed, or had fled the country. During the turbulent decades that followed, music became a powerful unifying force, a means of preserving the country’s national identity, and 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 self-government. During these years, hundreds of thousands of Estonians gathered publicly to sing forbidden patriotic songs and to listen to protest speeches, risking their lives to proclaim their desire for independence. The revolutionary songs they created anchored Estonia’s struggle for freedom, which was ultimately accomplished without the loss of a single life. Combining interviews of movement leaders and Estonian citizens with rare archival footage from the period of Soviet occupation, The Singing Revolution is an inspiring account of one nation’s dramatic rebirth. It is also an evocation of the sustaining and liberating power of hope and humankind’s irrepressible drive for freedom and self-determination.
documentary, Soviet Union, Estonia, Estonian revolution, singing revolution, Laulupidu, history, historical, Estonian history
English
North America
United States
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