Pete Seeger: The Power of Song (2007)

95% of critics liked it
(20 reviews)
93% of users liked it
(473 ratings)

The reflective documentary Pete Seeger: The Power of Song explores the legacy of revered American folk singer and activist Seeger - written and directed by filmmaker Jim Brown when Seeger was in his late '80s. In lieu of recounting the narrative of Seeger's life note-for-note, however, Brown uses… More The reflective documentary Pete Seeger: The Power of Song explores the legacy of revered American folk singer and activist Seeger - written and directed by filmmaker Jim Brown when Seeger was in his late '80s. In lieu of recounting the narrative of Seeger's life note-for-note, however, Brown uses that individual biography as a contextual lens, through which he recounts decades of American social history. To tell his story, the filmmaker interpolates original, exclusive interviews with such Seeger contemporaries as Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen, archival footage of Seeger in concert, and extracts from Seeger's private home movies. In the process, Brown unveils the extent to which Seeger continually prompted societal change through his consciousness-raising music and offstage social efforts. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 31 min.
Directed By: Jim Brown
Genres: Documentary, Musical & Performing Arts, Special Interest

In Theaters: Apr 29, 2007 Wide
On DVD: Aug 5, 2008
Studio: The Weinstein Company

Critic Reviews

Peter Margasak, Chicago Reader
irector Jim Brown tells the story well even if he refuses to address any of the singer's missteps (such as becoming infuriated when Dylan first plugged in at the Newport Folk Festival).
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
A stirring, revelatory film, which captures Seeger as the media-age Johnny Appleseed of folk.
Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News
Fans like Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan express unvarnished awe, but it's the well-told arc of Seeger's life that makes the strongest impression, as director Jim Brown takes us from the highs to the lows and back up again.
A.O. Scott, New York Times
As the loving documentary, Pete Seeger: The Power of Song, makes clear, Pete Seeger is still busy, still angry, still hopeful, still singing.
Rafer Guzman, Newsday
Pete Seeger: The Power of Song could have been called Pete Seeger: The First Punk. As the film traces the singer's long life, it also, inevitably, tracks the evolution of American countercultures through much of the 20th century.
Brian Miller, Village Voice
Shallow, very officially sanctioned, and overly compressed.
John A. Nesbit, Old School Reviews
Joan Baez calls Pete a "saint," and Jim Brown's documentary makes a strong case for his canonization.
Bill Gibron, PopMatters
In a category that is growing in greatness exponentially, the stunning documentary Pete Seeger: The Power of Song ... brilliantly immortalizes an already living legend
Harvey S. Karten, Compuserve
A love letter to the singer.
Tony Medley, tonymedley.com
Forget the controversial politics (that's what folk music is all about), this is a fascinating story with great music, despite the tedious last 15 minutes.
Edward Douglas, ComingSoon.net
An amazing man and an amazing film.
Marjorie Baumgarten, Austin Chronicle
More than an appreciation, Pete Seeger: The Power of Song is an inspiration.
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)
You sense that Seeger may feel his greatest legacy is not what he accomplished, but what his presence gave others the courage to accomplish. Even if it was just singing along with a roomful of strangers.
Ted Fry, Seattle Times
If you've never heard of Pete Seeger or if you've known him all your life, see this film. Walking out, you might just be ready to put the world together.