The Singing Revolution

A single nation. A million voices. The fall of an empire.

Most people don't think about singing when they think about revolutions. But song was the weapon of choice when, between 1986 and 1991, Estonians sought to free themselves from decades of Soviet occupation. During those years, hundreds of thousands gathered in public to sing forbidden patriotic songs and to rally for independence. "The young people, without any political party, and without any politicians, just came together ... not only tens of thousands but hundreds of thousands ... to gather and to sing and to give this nation a new spirit," remarks Mart Laar, a Singing Revolution leader featured in the film and the first post-Soviet Prime Minister of Estonia. "This was the idea of the Singing Revolution." James Tusty and Maureen Castle Tusty's "The Singing Revolution" tells the moving story of how the Estonian people peacefully regained their freedom--and helped topple an empire along the way.

Cast

Linda Hunt

Heiki Ahonen

Mari-Ann Kelam

Tunne Kelam

Mart Laar

Marju Lauristin

Ivo Linna

Tiia-Ester Loitme

Lagle Parek

Arnold Rüütel

Ingrid Rüütel

Edgar Savisaar