The littleknown story of estonias singing revolution. The documentary the singing revolution chronicles this. It tells of the conquests that germans, danes, swedes, poles and russians had over the country and the many hands that this small nation passed through over the centuries. Embracing estonias singing revolution the seattle times. If that was a good enough name of the revolution for the estonian participants, it was a good enough title for our movie. The singing revolution how estonia restored its independence add to favourites your favourite. Among 15 other countries, it became independent on august 20th, 1991. The estonians had, for over 100 years, music festivals with 25,000 people onstage singing estonian cultural songs. The singing revolution 2007 stream and watch online. It didnt win any awards, but im proud of what ive done. The return to capitalism the estonian economy, and companies operating in estonia, have undergone major changes since the decades of strict, economic regulation. Estonias singing revolution a longstanding tradition among estonians, singing festivals served an important role in the countrys struggle for independence from the soviet union. The singing revolution is a 2006 documentary film created by americans james tusty and maureen castle tusty about the nonviolent singing revolution in estonia in which hundreds of thousands of estonians gathered publicly between 1986 and 1991, in an effort to end decades of soviet occupation.
The singing revolution is the incredible documentary story of estonia, a small country that, united by their 100yearold love of singing, stood against the villainous soviet union. The supreme soviet of estonia issued the estonian sovereignty declaration on 16 november. As the director, who presented the film, said about persuading people to see the movie, lets see, its a film about a singing revolution in estonia, what shall we do. The singing revolution is a 2006 documentary film created by americans james tusty and maureen castle tusty about the nonviolent singing revolution in estonia in which hundreds of thousands. Public broadcasting, this one hour documentary tells the history of estonias massive song festival, and the role music plays in estonian. Estonias singing revolution travel smithsonian magazine. We learned of the singing revolution while teaching filmmaking at an estonian university in 1999. Despite the fact that the documentary focuses on the process of estonia regaining its independence in 19871991, the film also looks back to occupation of estonia. Estonias singing revolution 1986 1991 download pdf version by stephen zunes april 2009. The singing revolution shows how, between 1987 and 1991, hundreds of thousands of. The nations darkest chapter, though, dawned in 1939 with the arrival of the soviets. Case study the singing revolution and estonia s nonviolent independence movement vision and motivation in 1869, estonians gathered in the capital city of.
Finally, as the ussr began to crumble, the estonians mobilized again, using song to demand independence. Every five years since 1869, hundreds of thousands of estonians have gathered at the. The singing revolution traces the history of estonia and the baltic region from its very roots between 5,000 to 8,000 years ago through to the singing revolution. Trivimi velliste, chairman of the estonian heritage society, first voiced the public ambition to regain independence. Estonia s singing revolution in 1987, tens of thousands of estonians rallied, singing traditional patriotic songs. A new film documents this turning point in estonia s struggle for liberation. Estonia, which had endured foreign occupation for centuries, joined its fellow baltic republics of latvia and lithuania in a nonviolent movement that enabled them to become independent from the soviet union in. The singing revolution critics consensus an inspiring true story, the singing revolution proves the pressure for political change can be induced through any number of surprising and nonviolent. The documentary the singing revolution chronicles this extraordinary yet seldomtold chain of events. The documentary the singing revolution tells the story of how the longsuffering estonians finally achieved their independence in 1991 after a nonviolent revolution fueled by the countrys tradition of mass singing. The result of a greater movement, estonia was the only country that did not have any bloodshed.
The singing revolution, a documentary by james tusty and maureen castle tusty about estonia s struggle to end soviet occupation, shows that it already has. The seattle estonian societyses joins estonians and the estonian spirited in actively promoting. My history day documentary for the saint paul, mn regional competition. Later, during the soviet era, a brave choir master, gustav ernesaks, had the nerve in 1947 to lead singers in estonia s unofficial national anthem. Why hasnt estonia s story been told by the world media. The singing revolution and the future of music in estonia. The singing revolution shows how, between 1987 and 1991, hundreds of thousands of estonians gathered publicly to sing forbidden patriotic songs and share protest speeches, risking their lives to. It seemed this time that the estonian nation might vanish completely. The singing revolution lasted over four years, with various protests and acts of defiance. We not only were amazed by the story itself, we were amazed that we knew virtually nothing about it. This socalled singing revolution, peaceful and nonviolent, persisted for five years, and in the end, estonians gained their freedom. On 20th of august, we celebrate the restoration of independence in estonia. The revolutionary songs they created anchored estonia s nonviolent struggle for freedom.
In conjunction with the release of this documentary, the singing revolution book is now on sale through the singing revolution website. This is a story that has not been told outside estonia, said filmmaker james tusty, who is of estonian descent. That movement in the baltics estonia, latvia and lithuania is known as the singing revolution. In the late 1980s, music was the mechanism by which estonia split from the soviet union. The singing revolution, a documentary by james tusty and maureen castle tusty about estonias struggle to. James tusty and maureen castle tustys the singing revolution tells the moving story of how the estonian people peacefully regained their freedomand helped topple an empire along the way. Dramatically capturing the spectacular beauty of estonia and the overwhelming sea of people and sound that brought this nation together, the singing revolution celebrates a people who revolted with no weapons but their songs, no force but their unstoppable dream. On 20th august 1991 estonian politicians declared the nations independence even as soviet tanks were rolling through the countryside to quell the movement. For more information, watch the singing revolution, a. The singing revolution narrates the remarkable story of this tiny nation. Soviet bloc independence campaigns 19891991 mainly or initiated by indigenous participants. Nathan southern, rovi after enduring wwiiera brutalization by hitlers nazi party and. Estonia s coveted position between europe and russia has lured wave after wave of occupiers.
The singing revolution is the first film to tell this historically vital tale. Estonians campaign for independence the singing revolution, 19871991. To everyones satisfaction, major efficiency improvements have been achieved. The years from 1987 to 1991 were filled with numerous such public demonstrations, as well as a great deal of political maneuvrings, the sum of which is known as the singing revolution.
During their stay, they became increasingly interested in the stories they heard about the estonian singing revolution. It began as a poem written by estonian poet, lydia koidula, during the 19 th century, a period known in the country as the national awakening, and played a critical role in estonia s independence movement from soviet occupation over 120 years later in a nonviolent resistance known as estonias singing revolution. The singing revolution documents how the estonian people regained their freedom and helped topple the soviet union along the way. Estonians were subject to kgb surveillance, deported to work in siberia, and prohibited from singing estonian nationalist songs or waving the estonian flag. The singing revolution shares how, between 1987 and 1991, hundreds of thousands of estonians gathered publicly to sing forbidden patriotic songs and share protest speeches, risking their lives to proclaim their desire for independence. Public broadcasting, this one hour documentary tells the history of estonia s massive song festival, and the role music plays in estonian culture, even today. This socalled singing revolution, peaceful and nonviolent, persisted for five years. Based on the film, and written by pritt vesilind with james and maureen tusty, this printed work enhances the films exploration of the history and spirit of estonia.
Id heard of the velvet revolution of czechoslovakia, but never of estonia s singing revolution. During the singing revolution, large groups of people managed to organize for independence under the. Rent the singing revolution 2006 starring linda hunt and heiki ahonen on dvd and bluray. Seattle estonian society seattle eesti selts, seattle, washington. 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. The singing revolution shares how, between 1987 and 1991, hundreds of thousands of estonians gathered publicly to sing forbidden patriotic songs and share. The singing revolution tells the moving and dramatic story of how the estonian people strategically, willfully, sung their way to freedomand helped topple an empire along the way.
If the singing revolution were a fictional film it would be dismissed as a pieinthesky fantasy. It was no coincidence that estonia subsequently became one of the first nations to. The real singing revolution started in 1988, when performing patriotic songs at mass events became usual. Rent the singing revolution 2006 on dvd and bluray. This is a story that has not been told outside estonia, said filmmaker james. For planting the seeds of the singing revolution to come, ernesaks is still revered. The process of restoring estonia s independence was named the singing revolution.