The Singing Revolution (2006) User Reviews

Moving Documentary

[rvenezia · 9/10 · 23 July 2009]

I rented this documentary from Netflix not expecting a whole lot, but I was so wrong and it was so well done and deserved more recognition and praise. This movie is a very moving documentary that shows how little Estonia defied the Soviet Union by singing. The Singing Revolution tells the true story how Estonia through song got their independence from the Soviet Union.

Now the questions must be asked how is this possible, how can singing change the world, well Estonia can show you how. Using music and interviews this documentary is a good view from anyone who loves a good and inspiring story.

Fine Doncumentary Work

[adamshl · 9/10 · 19 April 2008]

James and Maureen Tusty, directors, along with James and Mike Majoros, writers are to be congratulated on a fine piece of work. "The Singing Revolution" documents how a small country without guns or troops, and with only a strong singing tradition and the will to be free, prospered.

It may have taken over fifty years to regain their independence, but the strong will of the Estonians triumphed over brutal aggression and media propaganda.

To see the sight of some hundred thousand people raising their voices in choral singing about their homeland and their quest for independence is one to behold. The Tustys have included some remarkable archival footage to fill in the foundation for their presentation. Skillfully narrated and edited, this documentary moves along nicely, showing the progress of a people who refused to be dominated by a foreign power.

At the end of the showing (on 4/18/08 at Cleveland's Cinematheque) the filmmaker assured the audience that this will be available on DVD following its festival runs. That's something worth looking forward to!

Times like this I wish there were a number above 10

[plkldf · 10/10 · 13 January 2008]

I'm pretty generous with films which I like -- if I'm really enjoying something, I'll usually give it a 10. Some people save 10 for that rare film that comes along every couple of years, and I wish I did that, so I could bestow a rare 10 on this film. But, 10 is as high as it goes.

I saw it at Cinema Sundays at the Charles, here in Baltimore. As the director, who presented the film, said about persuading people to see the movie, "Let's see, it's a film about a singing revolution in Estonia, what shall we do instead?" But, he said, once people see it they love it. Certainly we did -- there was applause for two-thirds of the credits, and then a long, partially standing, ovation for the director after the credits were over.

The film opens with history -- the Soviet occupation of Estonia under Stalin, then the Nazi occupation, then after that the Soviets again.

Then it goes to the present day -- a man is conducting what seems to be a chorus of thousands of people, of all ages, in a song -- the subtitles tell you it's a patriotic song. The shots of the faces of the singers and the audience are warm and moving -- most of the people are smiling --some in the audience are holding back tears. The physical beauty of the people and the setting, combined with the welling voices and harmonies, are powerful, entrancing.

The movie then describes, through incredible archival footage combined with interviews with people who participated on various sides, Estonia's use of song and non-violence to precipitate the downfall of the Soviet Union.

This is a story and a half -- and it's much more powerful because you know, incredibly, it really happened. This is a story of people who, after thousands of years on the land, were occupied by Germany in the 1200s and were essential serfs for 600 years. In 1869 their awakening nationalism led to the first singing festival (Laulupidu).

In 1918 the country declared independence, but after about 20 years the land was again occupied, this time by Bolsheviks. The land was then briefly occupied by Nazi Germany, and then became part of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

In 1947, the Singing Festival was reborn. To mark the occasion, a composer wrote a tune for a patriotic poem, which translates as "Land of my fathers, land that I love" in English, and it became a musical symbol of the desire for independence of the Estonian people. But in 1969, the 100th anniversary of the singing festival, the Soviets forbade the singing of "Land of my fathers." Nevertheless, the choir, having sung their Soviet songs, refused to leave the stage, and 20,000 audience members began singing "Land of my fathers" in defiance of the authorities. Eventually the Soviets allowed the song's composer onto the stage to conduct the song, as though it was their idea all along.

That act of defiance -- that singing of a song -- marked the start of a non-violent revolution which brought independence to Estonia and led directly to the breakup of the Soviet Union. The movie details the various times when things could have gone wrong -- the times when the Estonians might have gone too far and precipitated a bloodbath. But, through a combination of bravery and a stubborn refusal either to back down or provoke, Estonian nationalists created a unique revolution -- the Singing Revolution.

This is a gorgeous story -- a story of persistence, bravery, sacrifice. This is a movie which will appeal to the Left and the Right. It's a movie which makes a case for nationalism. It's a movie which will inspire you.

This is the story of how culture saved a nation.

[saareman · 10/10 · 21 October 2007]

"The Singing Revolution" (Estonian title: "Laulev revolutsioon") was screened in its Canadian Premiere as the main Gala film of the 3rd Annual estdocs Estonian Documentary Film Festival in Toronto on Sunday Oct. 21, 2007 at the Ontario Science Centre Auditorium.

The evening opened with welcoming words from festival organizers Ellen Valter and Lia Hess and the introduction of film co-director Maureen Castle Tusty who explained that her husband and film co-director James Tusty was not able to make it to the Toronto screening as he was representing the film at its simultaneous Polish premiere at the Warsaw Film Festival. Maureen Castle Tusty then introduced former Estonian Prime Minister Mart Laar who was a special guest for the evening and who also played a prominent role in the events of the film during his early years in the Estonian Heritage Society.

Even though the audience in the hall was a large cross-section of local Estonian-Canadians for many of whom the main events of the film were a well-known part of our recent international history, I think everyone was genuinely impressed by the high standard of care and craftsmanship that the filmmakers put on display in their film which was screened in a crystal sharp high definition image.

The film delivers a lot of densely packed information on Estonia's recent history from the Communist/Nazi Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact of 1939 that effectively delivered Estonia into the repressive dictatorship of Joseph Stalin's Soviet Regime to the most recent Song Festival("Laulupidu") of 2004. More time is spent on the early years of the Russian occupation in the 1940's as it was then when the terror of the occupiers was at its fullest. The film then leaps ahead to the years of the mid to late 1980's when Mikhail Gorbachev's "perestroika" (economic restructuring) & "glasnost" (open-ness/free speech) opened the way for Estonian national movements such as the Estonian Independence Party, the Popular Front and the Estonian Heritage Society to test the limits that would be allowed before a further brutal oppressive crackdown began. Their steady probing and persistence made tiny Estonia a leading element on the way to the eventual breakdown and breakup of the Soviet empire. Along the way, the role of Estonian music in general and the ongoing National Song Festival in particular, are shown as a force that kept hope for independence alive from as early a date as 1947 when Estonian composer/conductor Gustav Ernesaks was able to sneak his song "My Fatherland is My Love" into the new Soviet Republic's first post-occupation Song Festival.

Although the subject matter is overall one of a very serious nature there are still several moments of humour in the film such as one Russian babushka's complaints about how "I'm ashamed of Estonians, they are so sly. Face to face they're so nice to you, but they stab you in the back when you turn." Fans of the writers Andrus Kivirähk and Oskar Luts were also rewarded with anecdotes such as narrator Linda Hunt extolling the clever "Old Farmer of the Barn" (Estonian "Rehepapp" - also the title & subject of a recent novel by Kivirähk) as the Estonian national hero in place of conventional mythological warriors and conductor Tiia-Ester Loitme lamenting the loss of her balloon in the Song Festival Parade with the words "Minu nunnu lendas minema!" ("My precious has flown away!") (this last one evokes Luts' immortal comic play "Kapsapea" ("The Cabbage Head"). It was a pleasure as well to hear Popular Front leader (& otherwise artist/cartoonist) Heinz Valk tell the stories of how he coined the phrases "Laulev revolutsioon" (Singing Revolution) and "Ükskord me võidame niikuinii!" (One day, we will win regardless!) with which he forever afterwards had to end his speeches, to audience shouts of "Say it Heinz! Say it!!". So there were many subtle chuckles to be enjoyed from the movie also.

The 475-seat hall was totally sold out for the occasion and the film was warmly received with a unanimous standing ovation at its conclusion. I'll admit to a huge personal bias here because of my Estonian heritage, but I find it hard to believe that anyone who supports movements of self-government and national independence and basic human rights in this day and age would not be moved by this wonderful film. Thanks to Maureen and James Tusty for their vision and their efforts to bring this story to the screen and to the world.

Oct. 28, 2007 Update: The 3rd Annual estdocs Festival ended on Oct. 26, 2007 and it was announced that "The Singing Revolution" won both the Audience Favourite and the Jury Prize for the week-long festival.

A "MUST SEE" - The amazing true story of how the nation of Estonia literally sang herself to freedom!

[ruby_fff · 10/10 · 2 May 2009]

THE SINGING REVOLUTION has the tag line: "A single nation. A million voices. The fall of an empire." Yes, it is a historical and real life story of the Estonians, having been under the oppression of Soviet occupation since WWII, tenaciously hanging on to their hopes and dreams of one day being an independent nation on their own again with no more foreign control. In 1991, Estonia finally gained their freedom. We are privileged to witness the Estonians' amazing historical journey that filmmakers James and Maureen Castle Tusty so thoughtfully compiled and graciously shared with us. Many hours of detailed research and interviews with a lot of Estonians involved in revealing their personal stories. The documentary is a 'must-see', including the bonus 'backstory' about how this film came to be from the viewpoint of the filmmakers. Narrator is Linda Hunt ("The Year of Living Dangerously" 1982, with Mel Gibson and Sigourney Weaver).

Historical truth: Chapter 2 (at 1947's song festival under Soviet rule): We see a sea of faces, mouths opened wide, singing together: "Land of my fathers! Land that I love!" Venno Laul, a conductor, talked about the music event: "(but) it was, and still is, primarily an opportunity to experience that we are Estonians. We have a strong culture. We are one nation. We are so few in number that we must emphasize that we exist."

Unity in singing: Chapter 3 and Chapter 6 (the 1969's 100 anniversary of the Estonian tradition of song festivals, and repeated at the summer of 1988 at Tallinn's song festival event, still under the eyes of the Soviets): People with hands holding hands straight up in the air, swaying with the singing of the (1947) 'national Estonian anthem': "Estonian I am, and Estonian I will be, as I was meant to be." "Estonian is a proud and good thing to be. Just like my great grandfathers - free." Heinz Valk, an artist, recounting the late '80s: "I was so inspired by those nights… Until now, revolutions have been filled with destruction, burning, killing, and hate, but we started our revolution with a smile and a song. Each person could go to work the next day knowing that the Estonian spirit survives" "…the main purpose of which really was to come together as a nation, and sing this one forbidden song."

Hopes and Dreams: We are taken through 'perestroika' period; the 'first' speaking out demonstration at Hirve Park; the establishment of The Heritage Society in 1987 and subsequent organized demonstrations. The gradual soaring of Estonian spirits we continue to feel for, through black and white archive footage as well as present day Estonian events in color, as they persistently discovered the fuel for change: "being together, singing together is their power."

You need not worry about the amount of talking heads / interviews on screen - the well-paced 96-minute documentary film is not at all stuffy with historical discussions - yes, devastating and touching accounts we will see and hear, like the Siberian camps (Gulag), Forrest Brothers resistance defiance, yet we actually get to hear millions singing melodic songs in Estonian, with live archive footage of people/women in their Estonian national costumes, younger sets in rock and roll gears, citizens in everyday clothing, all coming together in unison singing together with immeasurable hope and strength year after year.

I noticed a brief inclusion (towards the end of chapter 3: Post WWII 1945-1969) of school boys in a hall singing / practicing a song (in Estonian) a rather familiar tune, with teacher (in jeans) on stage snapping his fingers and swaying in rhythm (I did, too - humming along that catchy tune and realized moments later with a smile that it's a Cliff Richard hit in the sixties, "Lucky Lips"!) I appreciate the ending credit roll that included pictures of key persons with brief captions about each, while the Estonians' voices swelling in the background, and we are so happy for the independent nation of Estonia. See this film and visit its official Web site for more at 'singingrevolution.com'.

I've never been to Estonia, I have no Estonian blood, but WHOA!

[tomhr · 10/10 · 26 May 2011]

Between Nazi occupation and decades of Soviet occupation, the Estonians had no weapons with which to resist the Soviet Army. Yet they didn't quit.

Two incidents from the movie got me very emotional-- The first was when a crowd from the Russian ethnic minority (who acted like aristocrats within Soviet Estonia and the Estonians should kiss their necks) stormed a government building. This Russian mob was intent on going in and grabbing the leaders of the Estonia-Independence movement. Then an Estonian man got on the radio, throngs of Estonians came, and suddenly the Russians found themselves completely surrounded. Both sides were expecting fighting to break out, and both sides knew that the Soviet Army would use this as an excuse to attack Estonians. But then the Estonian crowd pulled apart, forming a road, and the Russians were able to leave unmolested.

The second incident that moved me deeply was when Soviet troops moved into Estonia, and they were trying to attack a TV tower. Estonians showed up, linking arms, and faced the Russian tanks. The Estonians knew that if the tanks rolled, or the Russians' machine guns fired, that they would die painfully -- and yet they filled up the road to the TV tower, and stared into the faces of the Russian tankmen. That is BRAVE.

This is a feel-good movie, and it's all 100 percent true. See it, and tell your friends to rent it.

Another Life Affirming Film

[Seamus2829 · 10/10 · 19 June 2008]

If you're thing is seeing quality documentaries about well kept secrets, 'The Singing Revolution' is the film for you. The film focuses on the tiny nation of Estonia (located in the Baltics,south of Finland),who dealt with hundreds of years of political oppression, from neighboring countries (Poland,Russia,Germany---especially during World War 2). Despite not having a military,the people of Estonia kept their heads about them by celebrating their culture,especially their music (Estonia has a rich legacy of more folk music than any other European country). A good block of this film concerns a yearly music festival,where performers & audience are truly the same thing). After seeing this astonishing documentary,and how the people of this country dealt with oppression from the Nazi's, as well as the Soviet Union thru their music, I exited the cinema with my head in the clouds. It is a very well written (taken from the book of the same name) & directed account of the human spirit & overcoming obstacles. If this film is playing in your area, by all means, don't miss it!

Let me add my voice to the well-deserved chorus of praise for this film

[Jneil · 10/10 · 24 June 2009]

I'll never understood why crimes against humanity committed by Nazi Germany have always garnered more attention from filmmakers than crimes against humanity committed by the Soviet Union, but they have. What makes The Singing Revolution an important and unique addition to the filmography of oppression and liberation is that Estonia was the ball in a lethal game of football between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany, and this documentary shows how the only difference between these two evil empires was that the Nazis could only attempt to annihilate the Estonian nation for a few years while the Soviets were at it for decades. The end credits alone -- where one reads about a survivor of two years in a Nazi concentration camp and eight years in a Soviet gulag -- would be sufficient reason to watch this film. But, of course, it is much more than that.

The Singing Revolution documents the indomitable human spirit. A people deprived of arms, deprived of freedom, and subjected to a series of ruthless occupations with the purpose of enslaving their people, stealing their natural resources, and brainwashing their children into forgetting their rich national history and culture -- nevertheless find a way to hold on to their identity through songs. The Estonians rebel against their Soviet masters without firing a shot, driving a truck filled with explosives into a building, walking into a crowded restaurant and setting off an explosive belt strapped to one's chest, dynamiting a hotel quartering enemy soldiers, assassinating a dignitary, kidnapping officials and demanding release of prisoners, or even pouring gasoline on themselves and lighting a match or engaging in a hunger strike.

And the Soviet enemy occupying Estonia had no tradition of freedom or none of the Christian morality the British Empire had when Gandhi went up against them in the struggle for India's independence.

After seeing Defiance a few months ago I was fascinated by the parallels between Jews hiding in the woods to fight the Nazis and Estonians hiding in the woods to fight the Soviets.

The Framers of the American system of government were wise enough to include the right of the people to keep and bear arms as a means of preserving our freedoms against both domestic tyranny and foreign invasion. One civil war was enough to convince any future tyrant of the Pyrrhic victory that awaited them even if they should prevail on the battlefield.

But The Singing Revolution is nonetheless inspiring to me by showing that even under circumstances when a people suffer defeat by overwhelming forces hope can be preserved, and even music can be a weapon in the arsenal of freedom.

Serious Singalong

[JohnDeSando · 23 July 2008]

It's been a few hundred years since the US had to figuratively sing for its independence, but less than 2 decades since Estonians finally shed the Soviet yoke and found freedom. That the country just south of Finland and between Germany and Russia achieved their freedom not by force but as it were by culture is more remarkable than its million people facing off a country of hundreds of million. Thus forms the outline of a dynamic documentary about Estonian revolution.

The thousands of Estonians who met every five years in Tartu, as many as 30,000, sang patriotic songs despite cruel occupations by Germany and Soviet Russia. The symbolic resistance was accompanied by some deft diplomacy during Mikhail Gorbachev's glasnost or freedom of speech and the break up of the USSR in the early 1990's.

James Trusty and Maureen Castle Trusty's documentary assembles archival footage of the struggle in the 20th century, uses the usual talking heads, some of whom were freedom fighters, and has the good sense to have an understated Linda Hunt narration. When these innocent throngs sing their nationalist songs, cinemaphiles can't but think of the French singing La Marseillaise at Rick's Cafe in Casablanca.

It all works to the extent that you will never forget the little country that could.

Surviving the evil empire...

[planktonrules · 10/10 · 11 November 2011]

This is a film about Estonian independence that occurred in the late 1980s and early 1990s--as the Communist Bloc began to fall apart. It's actually odd that very few films about this period are ever seen in the US--especially considering this meant an end to the very long and tense Cold War.

The film begins with a history of Estonia in the 20th century. After gaining its independence following WWI, the country was at peace--that is until the evil pact between the USSR and Nazi Germany. This agreement allowed Stalin to invade and a period of very intense persecutions began. Deportations to Siberia and mass occurred to break the back of the country. Then, two years later, Germans invaded and occupied this tiny country. And, towards the end of the war, the Soviets returned and very harsh repression returned. For the next 45 years or so, the nation would have all symbols of nationalism removed and a strong move to turn the citizens into Soviet citizens began. Despite this, there was a very, very small and quiet sense that Estonia would one day rise again. With a slight easing of free speech rights during the rule of Gorbachev, these hidden desires began to slowly be expressed. Much of the film consists of showing the steps that occurred with these first murmurs for freedom to the actual declaration of independence.

So how did singing come into all this? Well, at times the link was rather tenuous in the film. It seems that the earliest forms of protest (even before Gorbachev) was in the nation's singing festivals--and there the people sang nationalistic songs which had been forbidden. And, on one occasion, one out of every three Estonians appeared at the festival to sing--something that is pretty hard to comprehend when you think about it.

All in all, a very inspiring documentary about freedom and bravery. Considering that a huge percentage of the nation had been murdered or deported during the Soviet era (about 1/3 of the nation), the fact that they stood up for freedom is all the more impressive.

The film is super-inspiring. It was narrated by Linda Hunt, but mostly is consists of Estonians talking on camera about the singing revolution--and this is most fitting. Additionally, archival footage and footage of Estonia today is used to tell this very touching story. The most important part, however, is at the very end--when a brief biographical statement is given for those who participated in the film--and their sacrifices.

Watch out for extremely violent images

[lsterk · 1/10 · 29 April 2016]

Movie barely underway complete with lingering shots of piles of corpses. But the film makers went to far with their gratuitous inclusion of a Nazi officer executing an adult male with fully depicted pistol shot to the head.

I understand a film dealing with the liberation of Estonia and its people requires addressing the oppression and violence they suffered. But an opening montage including an actual execution of a real person who was an Estonian son and comrade and perhaps a brother and a father was itself ruthless.

He may have been an innocent victim as the Nazis loved to intimidate through executions. He may have been a member of the Estonian resistance, caught and executed. Whichever he was, I guarantee you he did not give up his life for the sake of bringing drama to a documentary. His memory deserves a more respectful fate.