What happens when ten thousand people are rounded up in one night and sent to labor camps? When half never returned? When decade after decade, one occupation after another tries to subjugate the people?In the cast of Estonia, a persistent, tenacious spirit of solidarity, national pride, and grassroots activism kept the nation united in song. Utilizing images of the lush countryside, interviews from many citizens with amazing stories to share, and clips from history, the result is a tapestry of history, song, and hope. Capturing not only the beauty of the Estonian people, but also of the green, lush countryside, the Tostys also capture something of the tenacious spirit of an amazing but little celebrated people. This is the story of how one brave nation fought and sang and survived.
Unique and Unified, A Nation Sings Its Way Through History
In Estonia, singing is an integral part of growing up. It is one of the ways this nation has preserved their culture whether under the Russians, the Nazis, the Scandinavians, or any other intruders. Geographically located between the former USSR and Europe, this picturesque nation is fiercely independent. Using old black and white archival footage intermixed with interviews of current Estonians and former activists, the Tostys weave a fascinating picture of quiet and tenacious strength. Home to the "Forest Brothers," Estonia saw many men who lived and fought in Estonia's forests for many years, under brutal conditions. One such warrior survived for nearly a decade in the wild, then was forced into 25 years in a labor camp. Today, he is part of the new Estonia and his story is part of her legacy.
The Singing Revolution is a Film of Great Beauty
During many of her earlier years, Estonia knew tragedy. No one was safe when the enemy was capturing everyone, including young children, to fill their quotas for the Gulag. The constant hunger, cold, and unreality gripped them all, wreaking havoc on their bodies but not their spirits. Stalin had said at one point, "...death solves all problems," indicating that a dead person is not a problem. This attitude towards Estonia caused many tragedies -- seventy thousand Estonians fled during the difficult years surrounding World War II; many died or were captured. Those who made it to the West often later returned to their homeland; Estonians grow deep roots. Often caught in the crossfires between enemy nation states, there was no stand an Estonian could take to protect their families. What remained was a solidarity that takes away one's breath, and a film to capture it all that is nothing short of an inspiration and a visual delight.
- Mountain View Productions
- 97 minutes
- 2006
- Movie site
Barbara DeGrande - Barbara DeGrande is a writer, film critic, and blogger, with years of experience as a program developer. She has a Bachelor of Arts in ...
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