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      Soundtrack for a Revolution

      2009 1h 22m Documentary History Drama Music List
      81% 16 Reviews Tomatometer 78% 100+ Ratings Audience Score Bill Guttentag's documentary examines the importance of music during the U.S. civil rights movement that took place during the 1950s and '60s. The various sit-ins and public demonstrations of the era incorporated protest songs, folk tunes and spirituals, music that was a crucial part of the movement. Guttentag uses archival footage and interviews to connect specific songs (covered by artists including the Roots and John Legend) to specific events, such as the Montgomery bus boycott. Read More Read Less

      Audience Reviews

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      Audience Member A look at the civil rights movement and the music that accompanied it. I really enjoyed it. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Audience Member The documentary âSoundtrack for a Revolutionâ? seamlessly intertwines the intense history of the civil rights movement with the music component that it highlights. There is an excellent balance of the history of the actual civil rights movement and that of the music that rode alongside the history, but takes the limelight in this film. The images at times can be hard to watch, so the music does a great job of soothing the audience and at the same time making it more powerful. Introducing archival footage and interviews and testimonies of people, the filmmakersâ(TM) tweak it to make it something new an interesting. They combine those two parts of the documentary with music performances of the songs that united the movement. Not only do the filmmakers make use of traditional music that was common for that time, but they also make use of current recording artists being a voice for the film. The current recording artists provide a gateway for attracting a younger audience. That technique is definitely something that they succeeded in using. With a subject that is of common knowledge, images that are stuck behind in your head, and music that will keep you singing for hours after the film credits roll, Soundtrack for a Revolution is a documentary worth watching. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Audience Member Great Music and the story will inspire you to Stand up for your right Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Audience Member http://filmreviewsnsuch.blogspot.com/2011/07/soundtrack-for-revolution.html Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Audience Member Phenomenal documentary with great performances. (on PBS and iTunes). Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Audience Member Amazingly sad/beautiful movie. Exceptionally well done. It was really good the way which it portrays the story about the civil rights movement. The musicians chosen to perform the songs were very well selected. It was impressive to see/hear the emotions from all the musicians. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Critics Reviews

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      David Fear Time Out Rated: 3/5 Nov 17, 2011 Full Review Mark Feeney Boston Globe The contemporary music sequences are a distraction from the heart of the movie: truly astounding archival footage of speeches, marches, and demonstrations. Rated: 2.5/4 May 27, 2010 Full Review Ann Hornaday Washington Post Through vivid archival material and voice-overs, the filmmakers create moving vignettes that, taken together, form a fascinating primer on nonviolence as a political force and discipline. Rated: 3/4 Apr 30, 2010 Full Review James Verniere Boston Herald Whether you lived through the civil rights movement or not, the Danny Glover-produced, marvelously musical "Soundtrack for a Revolution" will leave you deeply moved and humming. Rated: A- May 27, 2010 Full Review Peter Keough Boston Phoenix The songs are rousing, but it takes more than a soundtrack to make a revolution. Rated: 3/4 May 26, 2010 Full Review Mike Scott Times-Picayune Puts a fresh spin on an important chapter in American history. Rated: 3/4 Mar 23, 2010 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Bill Guttentag's documentary examines the importance of music during the U.S. civil rights movement that took place during the 1950s and '60s. The various sit-ins and public demonstrations of the era incorporated protest songs, folk tunes and spirituals, music that was a crucial part of the movement. Guttentag uses archival footage and interviews to connect specific songs (covered by artists including the Roots and John Legend) to specific events, such as the Montgomery bus boycott.
      Director
      Bill Guttentag, Dan Sturman
      Producer
      Mark Downie, Danny Glover
      Screenwriter
      Bill Guttentag, Dan Sturman
      Genre
      Documentary, History, Drama, Music
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Jan 19, 2017
      Runtime
      1h 22m