Synopsis

Music was the weapon of choice when, between 1987 and 1991, Estonians sought to free themselves from decades of Soviet occupation. During those years, hundreds of thousands gathered in fields to sing forbidden patriotic songs and to rally for independence. James Tusty and Maureen Castle Tusty’s The Singing Revolution documents how the Estonian people sang their way to freedom while helping topple an empire. Four years in the making, the film reflects the indomitable human drive for personal freedom, political independence, and self-determination—as the late Milton Friedman put it, this film “will unquestionably have the effect of strengthening the belief in freedom on the part of anybody who watches it." The Singing Revolution is a moving, intensely human testament to the sustaining power of hope and the motivating strength of song. The most successful documentary film in Estonian box-office history, this unforgettable film has come to the U.S. thanks to MPI.

As of fall 2008, The Singing Revolution is available on DVD. A gorgeously illustrated companion book has also just been published. Proceeds go to charity. Find out more at SingingRevolution.com.

Awards:
Best Documentary (co-winner), Savannah Film Festival, 2007
Diane Passage Jury Prize, Savannah Film Festival, 2007
Most Inspirational Film, Boulder International Film Festival, 2008