This looks like a must see film and not just because it features the music of quite a few of my favourite artists…although that does play a part, lol. I mean – Anthony Hamilton and the Blind Boys of Alabama – why hasn’t this collaboration happened before?! (I can’t listen to their rendition of ‘Devil in a Hole’ though without getting flashbacks of the Wire, lol…INDEEED).
I watched the movie Amandla last year, which tells a similar story of how songs were used as a form of social protest during Apartheid South Africa – it’s a must see especially to see how music and song can really unite people during times of struggle.
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SOUNDTRACK FOR A REVOLUTION tells the story of the American civil rights movement through its powerful music -the freedom songs protesters sang on picket lines, in mass meetings, in paddy wagons, and in jail cells as they fought for justice and equality.
The film features new performances of the freedom songs by top artists, including John Legend, Joss Stone, Wyclef Jean, and The Roots; riveting archival footage; and interviews with civil rights foot soldiers and leaders, including Congressman John Lewis, Harry Belafonte, Julian Bond, and Ambassador Andrew Young.
The freedom songs evolved from slave chants, from the labor movement, and especially from the black church. The music enabled blacks to sing words they could not say, and it was crucial in helping the protesters as they faced down brutal aggression with dignity and non-violence. The infectious energy of the songs swept people up and empowered them to fight for their rights.
SOUNDTRACK FOR A REVOLUTION celebrates the vitality of this music. Directed by Bill Guttentag and Dan Sturman (Nanking), and executive produced by Danny Glover, SOUNDTRACK FOR A REVOLUTION is a vibrant blend of heart-wrenching interviews, dramatic images, and thrilling contemporary performances — a film of significance, energy, and power.
