Soundtrack for a Revolution

"Soundtrack for a Revolution" is a documentary that is also an installment of "American Experience" which does something unusual...it breaths new life on topics often covered in "American Experience" as well as other documentaries. The Civil Rights message is packed differently and is well worth seeing. While I was somewhat indifferent to the modern singers singing the protest songs of the period (I was much more interested in hearing the actual protestors singing the same tunes), I was impressed how well the documentary makers were able to present a message that hits you hard emotionally. Don't be at all surprised if you watch and find yourself crying, as the stories of police terror and hatred in the south are heartbreaking. Very well made and fresh...something that really impressed me.

...And overcome,they did (and let us all be thankful). I'm talking about the Civil Rights movement that (more or less)started back in the 1950's,when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on that bus to a white passenger (and was no big surprise what so ever,placed under arrest by the police),and acted as the springboard for a new revolution in the southern most United States:the revolution for civil rights for African American's. Although things only got far uglier (race riots, lynchings,protest rallies,with the subsequent violence toward the protesters,as well as the Freedom Riders),the move toward civil rights was cemented with the March on Washington,with the Rev.Dr. Martin Luther King's insightful "I have a dream" speech before thousands of both black & white audiences. All of this,and more is documented in Bill Guttentag & Dan Sturman's superlative documentary,"Soundtrack For A Revolution". Besides a treasure trove of film footage (both black & white,as well as colour)of the events that transpired a nation,there is testimony from some of the pioneers of the Civil Rights movement (folk singer/activist,Harry Belafonte,John Lewis,Charles Neblett,Robert Cohen,etc.),as well as performances of some of the music that shaped a nation by the likes of The Roots,John Legend,Joss Stone,Wyclef Jean,Richie Havens & The Blind Boys Of Alabama,to mention a few,as well as original film footage of the songs being sung by the people who were clamoring for social change (via newsreel & television film clips). The cinematography for the interview footage,as well as the performances are by Jon Else,Stephen Kazminski & Buddy Squires,with precision editing by Jeffrey Doe. This is a documentary that should be seen by anybody who is interested in American social history,and especially should be screened in schools during Black History Month,in February. Not rated by the MPAA,this film contains disturbing images & testimony of the ugly face of racism during a troubled time,as well as some unpleasant racial slurs by some of the lowest of the low,bottom feeders of society (and you know whom I am referring to)