The Singing Revolution

Estonia was under Soviet rule for many years. Asking for independence was forbidden. What people had were their songs. Between 1986 and 1991 those songs came out into the open. Hundreds of thousands gathered. What they sang were banned patriotic songs. The gatherings kept growing. No weapons were used. The method was singing together. The documentary sets out how that worked. Mart Laar is among those who speak. Laar became the first prime minister after Soviet rule. Tunne Kelam and Marju Lauristin speak as well. Archive footage takes up a large part of it. Linda Hunt narrates. James Tusty and Maureen Castle Tusty made the ninety four minute film, an American and Estonian production finished in 2006.