The Reviews

Praise for The Singing Revolution

“Imagine the scene in “Casablanca” in which the french patrons sing “La Marseillaise” in defiance of the germans, then multiply its power by a factor of thousands, and you’ve only begun to imagine the force of The Singing Revolution.”
-Matt Zoller Seitz, The New York Times

“An emotionally and dramatically satisfying narrative.”
-Joe Leydon, Variety

“Provides an uplifting depiction of vitally important political ends achieved via nonviolent means.”
-Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter

“a wonderful exploration of that still little-understood period, from the mid-1980s through 1991, when the empire of soviet communism rapidly collapsed.”
-Andrew O’hehir, Salon.com

“Inspiring!… Gripping!… A story of how feelings became songs, songs became a national voice and voice became action!”
-Robert Abele, LA Times

“this is a powerful and emotional account of 71 years of the history of Estonia and especially how the Estonian spirit freed the country from the leash of the Soviet union. The film combines beautiful choral music with the dramatic story of the country’s fight for independence. Directors Maureen and James Tusty and narrator Linda Hunt bring a dramatic tension unusual in pure documentaries rising to a climax with the account of the 1991 Soviet coup and its attempt to seize the country.”
– Mark Leeper, Rotten Tomatoes

“…The story of ‘the singing revolution’ is a thought-provoking reminder that culture and citizenship are closer bedfellows than we might realize, and that having a song in one’s heart is more than just a romantic notion.”
– Bruce Bennett, The New York Sun

“…The film offers a functional primer in baltic history, as well as choice video footage of one small country as it weathers a tectonic shift in world politics.”
– Nick Pinkerton, The Village Voice

“Tears seem to flow wherever the film is screened – the emotion of the music and the story spark a reaction amongst Estonians and foreigners alike.”
– Joel Alas, Baltic Times

“the first feature doc by James Tusty and Maureen Castle Tusty is… an uplifting one befitting the holiday spirit.”
– V.A. Musetto, New York Post

“Singing Revolution eloquently illustrates that, once granted, even a smidgen of freedom can transform into an unstoppable weapon against oppression.”
– Nick Schager, Slant Magazine

“Directors James and Maureen Tusty acknowledge that few outsiders care much about this tiny baltic nation. And then, through a mix of moving interviews and affecting footage, they show us why we should.”
– Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News

“[this movie] should be seen by every student in America, as it speaks directly about what it means to be a citizen and to live in a free society.”
– J. B. Spins, Posted on Spins’ Blog

“A wonderful film… [it] will unquestionably have the effect of strengthening the belief in freedom on the part of anybody who watches it.”
– Milton Friedman, Nobel Laureate

“There are many breathless moments in the film.”
– Rein Veidemann, Postimees

“It constitutes the festival’s most compelling narrative…And also one of the world’s.”
– Alan Scherstuhl, The Pitch

“All who want to make revolution, without killing and blood, this is the cookbook for you.”
– Emeremer’s Blog

“…I’d pronounce this unity of the Estonian people as nothing short of extraordinary.”
– Harvey Karten, CompuServe

“…The movie almost has an epic feel.”
– Jim Morekis, Connect Savannah

“…I don’t think there was anyone that wasn’t genuinely impressed by the high standard of care and craftsmanship that the filmmakers put on display in their film…”
– Alan Teder, Reviewer on IMDb.com

“[the film] is a top rate hollywood production that has interviews with most of the important players of that time and has some amazing archival footage that is rarely seen elsewhere.”
– Andres Sehr, Posted on Sehr’s Blog

“Without a doubt, this documentary deserves a glowing review as an emotional roller coaster that relies on nothing but the real life events of real people with dreams of freedom.”
– Jason Cherniak, Posted on Cherniak’s Blog

“The Singing Revolution is an undeniably important film.”
– Chicago Tribune

“It’s one of the most inspirational and powerful documentaries I’ve ever seen.”
– Reel Talk