It’s safe to assume that today, everyone’s familiar with the civil rights movement and the important role that Martin Luther King, Jr. played. Some may even have heard of other leaders, some more well known than others, who fought for and won their freedom but few ever speak of the music that accompanied the revolution though at nearly every turn, it was present. It was there in the background of the sit-ins and sometimes at the forefront of marches; songs and hymns, some new some traditional but all speaking to the moment and the want (need) for action. Documentary filmmakers Bill Guttentag and Dan Sturman saw an opportunity to revive the music and so Soundtrack for a Revolution was born.

The retelling of the civil rights movement through song, Soundtrack for a Revolution is a sort of musical homage to the people and the sounds that energized a revolution. Incorporating some of the most famous songs of the time with interviews, archival footage and performances from acclaimed artists, Guttentag and Sturman have created an educational and entertaining record of an unforgettable period in American History.

Guttentag and Sturman interview many individuals involved at various levels of the movement and illicit from them both accounts of what was taking place but also the music that accompanied each step. From the early sit in days which spawned songs like “I’m Gonna Sit at the Welcome Table” and “Keep Your Eyes on the Prize” and into “We Shall Overcome,” the film follows the struggle of the people through both music and action. I learned the heavy meaning of “Trouble the Water,” the importance and weight that song lyric carries while also being entertained by performances from an array of contemporary artists from Joss Stone to The Roots.

Soundtrack for a Revolution is a testament to a history we cannot forget. It’s also a powerful memorial to the people and the music that marked an era and it manages to be all of these things while also entertaining.