''Singing Revolution'' premieres at Smith Opera House

Few countries had their national resilience and cultural pride tested as sorely in the 20th century as the Republic of Estonia. But as the new film "The Singing Revolution" shows, the people always had their songs.

First occupied by the Soviets in 1939, then by the Nazis, and then by the Soviets again, Estonia lived through decades of terror. By the end of World War II, more than one-quarter of the population had been deported to Siberia, been executed, or had fled the country. Music sustained the Estonian people during those years, and was such a crucial part of their struggle for freedom that their successful bid for independence is known as the Singing Revolution.

James Tusty and Maureen Castle Tusty's improbable and delightful documentary tells a fascinating story. Estonian folk singing, enshrined annually at Laulupidu, a song festival, endured throughout the nation's darkest days. It was the only form of cultural identity available through decades of brutal invasion, slaughter and occupation by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union.

The movie, narrated by Linda Hunt, chronicles Estonia's journey from oppressive beginnings, as Estonia's citizens were summarily executed or sent to hard-labor camps, to the final chapter of self- determination, with exhilarating, colorful displays of thousands of proud citizens singing. It's a powerful story of a nation that, almost literally, sang its way to freedom.

"The Singing Revolution" is a wonderful exploration of that still little-understood period, from the mid-1980s through 1991, when the empire of Soviet communism rapidly collapsed. The film is not rated but contains footage of Soviet and German atrocities. In English and some Estonian with subtitles, it has a running time of 96 minutes.

As part of The Smith's annual "Hot Docs" documentary film series, Robert Cowles, Hobart and William Smith Colleges Professor of Music, speaks and leads a town-hall style discussion following the Friday screening.