How Long Is “Soundtrack for a Revolution”?

Soundtrack for a Revolution takes a look at the American civil rights movement, focusing on the role that music -- spirituals and protest songs -- played, as the backdrop and the inspiration for the pickets, sit-ins, and demonstrations of the turbulent era. Directors Bill Guttentag and Dan Sturman, whose previous documentary looked at the Japanese Army's atrocities against the Chinese people in Nanking, here blend images from the time and interviews with participants with new footage of contemporary artists performing the inspirational songs. Interviewees include Harry Belafonte, John Lewis, Andrew Young, and Julian Bond, and the documentary includes performances by John Legend, Joss Stone, and Angie Stone. The film examines such pivotal moments as the Montgomery bus boycott, the March on Washington, and the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King. Through old footage and interviews, spirituals like "Wade in the Water" and "We Shall Not Be Moved," and folk songs like Phil Ochs' "Here's to the State of Mississippi" are each connected to specific aspects or moments of the movement. Danny Glover was the executive producer of the film. Soundtrack for a Revolution had its world premiere at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival.