February 23, 2009

t is always interesting in learning about friends. It is even more fascinating to see their story on the big screen. I went with my friend to the movie theatre and wrote this for her for my work. 

Recently the Rotary Club brought to town the most amazing movie about a revolution where not a single drop of blood was spilled upon the soil. Most people think about weapons, but don’t think about singing for one second when they think about revolution. But song was the weapon of choice when the Estonians sought to free themselves from decades and decades of Soviet and German occupation. 'The Singing Revolution' is an inspiring account of one nation’s dramatic rebirth. It is the story of humankind’s irrepressible drive for freedom and self-determination. Overheard, someone else said, "If Hollywood made this story up, no one would believe it."

My friend and her husband drove to my local theatre just to see the movie on the big screen. "My Grandfather owned the theatre in Kuuresaare, Estonia and he  was taken in 1941 by the Soviets. His crimes were supposedly for  'anti-Stalin propaganda and a terrorist'. He was one of thousands that died in the camps", my friend said. "My grandfather's theatre burnt down about 10-15 years ago. When I went back there with my mother, some of the old people remembered the theatre and how my Dad, who ran the theatre on occasion, would let them in and see a show for less than what the admission was. My Dad passed on a few years ago, but I know he would be watching this film over and over again and showing it to everyone."

" I just find it rather poignant that so many years later comes a movie that shows what really happened in Estonia through those years. The lives that were lost will never be forgotten", my friend said. "I know that my Grandfather would have been proud to show this in the theatre that he had, and my Dad would have allowed those that didn't quite have the money to see it as well. And knowing my Dad, who had the most amazing voice, he would have raised his voice in song to those songs in the film while it played." My friend's parents immigrated to Canada after fleeing Estonia in 1941 and ending up in a German deportation camp. "My parents arrived in Canada in 1947", she stated.

Kuuresaare Castle in Estonia is a beautiful place with a horrific history. Some of the mass graves footage in the film is from there. When she went to Estonia she went to the castle she took pictures of the names on the plaque. When she saw the castle on film, my friend said whispered. "I am glad that my father was not alive when we found out who they were, for some were his friends which including one very close one. He always hoped that they had made it and I know it would have crushed him to find out otherwise. I have a photo of the commemorative plague that honours them. So the film now has an even more personal aspect for myself and family because of that mass grave footage."

However crushed the Estonian's seemed to be, they had no weapons of any kind, yet they won the war and their freedom by singing. During occupation from the various other countries which over took them every few years, the Estonian's never lost hope or faith that they would be free once again.

The Tallinn Song Stage was built in 1959 for arranging the Estonian Song Festivals. In September 1988, a massive song festival, called "Song of Estonia", was held at the Tallinn Song Festival Arena. This time nearly 300,000 people came together, which was one out of every three Estonians. On that day political leaders were participating actively, and were for the first time insisting on the restoration of independence.

The Singing Revolution lasted over four years, with various protests and acts of defiance. In 1991, as Soviet tanks attempted to stop the progress towards independence, the Estonian Supreme Soviet together with the Congress of Estonia proclaimed the restoration of the independent state of Estonia and repudiated Soviet legislation. "People acted as human shields to protect radio and TV stations from the Soviet tanks. Through these actions Estonia regained its independence without any bloodshed", stated my friend.

As the movie came to a close, you could hear my friend quietly singing in Estonian.

Photo Above: My friend told me, "This photo is taken I think in 1939.  It is of my Dad and his friend last name of Kaljo in the courtyard of the Kuressaare Castle which is located on the island of Saaremaa in Estonia.  Kajlo was deported in July of 1941 and died in the camps.  I don't know his first name though I do think it is Aleksei.  But don't quote me on it."

Photo Above: My friend says, "My Dad was born in Kuressaare and my Mother was born in Tartu, Estonia.  This photo was taken in 1939. She was 17 and my father 21 when they married in Kuressaare Estonia. They fled Estonia to Germany in 1941, shortly after my Grandfather, my Dad's Dad was taken February 1941, by the soviets.  My Grandfather died in one of the many  camps near Perm Russia, almost to the day of his arrest.  Thousands of Estonians either fled to Sweden or Germany to escape the persecutions by the Soviets.  My parents lived in Germany until 1947 then emigrated to Canada.  First my Dad came then worked to pay for my Mom and two brothers.  My oldest brother was born during the war and my second oldest brother was born shortly after the end of the war.  My Mom and two brothers arrived at their new home on Christmas Eve 1947.'

Photo Above: "I am at Kuuresaare Castle in Estonia sitting on the moat bride railing with the castle behind me. This was taken in 2004", my friend said.

I highly recommend seeing the movie "The Singing Revolution". Even if you are not a history buff, you will kick yourself if you don't see it.