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The Singing Revolution

Play trailer Poster for The Singing Revolution 2006 1h 34m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
83% Tomatometer 35 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
Between 1986 and 1991, the people of Estonia protested against their Soviet occupiers in large rallies. Although these protests were fundamentally peaceful, the Estonians used a weapon powerful enough to rattle an empire: song. Patriotic songs, to be precise, which the Soviets had outlawed in Estonia. Thousands upon thousands would assemble to sing in defiance. This documentary unveils the story of a population that stood up against their oppressors with nothing but their voices and their pride.

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The Singing Revolution

The Singing Revolution

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Critics Consensus

An inspiring true story, The Singing Revolution proves the pressure for political change can be induced through any number of surprising -- and non-violent -- means.

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Critics Reviews

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Josh Rosenblatt Austin Chronicle 07/03/2008
3.5/4
Full of the kind of collective passion and struggle and yearning for freedom that makes viewers well up with pride at their shared humanity. Go to Full Review Amy Biancolli Houston Chronicle 06/20/2008
3.5/4
This fine and surprising documentary asks an even more challenging question: Can music promote nonviolence, prevent bloodshed and successfully overthrow an oppressive regime? Again -- astonishingly -- the answer is 'yes.' Go to Full Review Jonathan F. Richards Film.com 05/30/2008
The thrill of this documentary is in the remarkable story of the Little Country That Could. Go to Full Review Betty Jo Tucker ReelTalk Movie Reviews 03/28/2009
One of the most inspirational and powerful documentaries I've ever seen. Go to Full Review Keith Breese Filmcritic.com 01/23/2009
4/5
a film that joyfully celebrates the power of the human spirit in all its glory. Go to Full Review James Verniere Boston Herald 10/18/2008
B+
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Audience Reviews

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11/24/2018 This movie manages to convey the spirit of Estonia and the true meaning of national/national pride. The fact that an entire revolution can be won by peace and by song. Goosebumps! See more 06/09/2012 What a story of the triumph of the human spirit! See more 04/18/2012 How Estonia resisted Nazi and Russian occupation through public song. Good for singers and free-expression geeks. See more 04/13/2012 Read the critic's reviews - they give it a decent appraisal for the most part. This documentary is inspirational - a Never Give Up attitude that can change the world. See more 01/25/2012 the singing revolution See more 01/01/2011 : An inspiring film about the human spirit's resilience, tenacity, and capacity for non-violent change on a national scale. It also happens to be an excellent, though necessarily brief, documentary on the history of Estonia over the last 100 years. I would give this film 10 stars, but then, these are my people on screen. See more Read all reviews
The Singing Revolution

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Cast & Crew

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Maureen Castle Tusty

Director

James Tusty

Director

Linda Hunt

Narrator

John Kusiak

Original Music

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The Singing Revolution

The Singing Revolution (2006) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Between 1986 and 1991, the people of Estonia protested against their Soviet occupiers in large rallies. Although these protests were fundamentally peaceful, the Estonians used a weapon powerful enough to rattle an empire: song. Patriotic songs, to be precise, which the Soviets had outlawed in Estonia. Thousands upon thousands would assemble to sing in defiance. This documentary unveils the story of a population that stood up against their oppressors with nothing but their voices and their pride.
Director
Maureen Castle Tusty, James Tusty
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 22, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$330.0K
Runtime
1h 34m