Opens on the 25th at the Carlton.  Plus Special fundraising screening at the Cinesphere, Toronto on the 20th by the Estonian Foundation.

A singing revolution?  A peaceful revolution?  Song was the choice of weapon for the almost always oppressed peoples of the Baltic state of Estonia (population of 1 million) from the world wars to the recent past.  Starting off with archive footage of Nazi occupation in the 1940’s, THE SINGING REVOLUTION moves to the period between 1987 and 1991 when Estonians fought (or sung) hard to free themselves, then from the Soviets, spurred by the population gathered to sing the forbidden patriotic songs in their own language.  Credit should also be given to the failure of Gorbachev’s foreign policies.

Interviews include choir conductors, Gulag survivors, former Estonian politicians and members of those involved in the singing revolution.  Besides the songs (choral type) sung in the film, the directors invoke a bit of suspense in the film through two notable segments.  One is the storming of parliament by the Russian residents and the other of the TV tower protected only by two policemen.  One of them is humorously interviewed as well.

THE SINGING REVOLUTION works like an informative packed history lesson, especially for those who know very little about Baltic history.  The uprising of the other Baltic states of Latvia and Lithuania is presented as well for contrast.  But mostly, this moving film should be seen to restore faith in the people that war and terrorism is no way to solve the world’s problems. 

The film is narrated by Oscar winner Linda Hunt (THE YEAR OF LIVING DANGEROUSLY).