Dynamic and powerful, the title while fitting, almost diminishes the musical artistry with which the film is woven together. The film artfully employs musical dynamics, taking the viewer on wave after wave of emotion. With performances by John Legend, Wyclef Jean, The Roots, Joss Stone, Blind Boys of Alabama, Mary Mary, Richie Havens, Anthony Hamilton, and Angie Stone, the film naturally packs a powerful pitch.
SOUNDTRACK FOR A REVOLUTION tells the story of the American civil rights movement through its 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 purposeful non-violence stance that marked the Civil Rights movement is poignantly embodied in the act of raising ones voice in song against heinous acts of ignorance and hatred and captured beautifully in film with both painstakingly restored archival footage and big budget studio shot recordings.
During a panel discussion on “Best Practices in Doc Genres” at the Vancouver International Film Festival, Director Bill Guttentag emphasized the importance of what you have to offer your audience, “when someone comes to watch your film you are taking away time that they will never get back, you have to think about what you are giving them in return.”
While the VIFF panel didn’t exactly live up to its promise of divulging the creative strategies used to move projects forward through development and financing, Guttentag delivered on the importance of capturing your audience. A point which was only reinforced by watching his latest film.
During the panel, Guttentag also remarked on his process citing his initial response to the project, scratching his head asking himself “How am I gonna get people to want to see this?” and ultimately, what would make those who aren’t interested come and see it? The solution was seeded generations prior in the music of the many brave men, women and children who withstood human atrocities with the strength and purity of their voices.
The history of civil rights has been told, documented and filmed many times, films like Eye on the Prize cover the subject extensively…but it’s a story every generation should hear and learn. The difficulty lies in being able to make such a covered story accessible and fresh to a new audience while staying true to the impetus of the movement. Incorporating performances by pop stars like Joss Stone, R&B artist Wyclef Jean help to bridge that gap and bring the two into harmony. Particularly notable was John Legend’s piano solo, it was enough to give one the awesome sense of serene power that sound and story intertwined carry.
To put it simply, see the film.
