Sing Your Song (2011)

95% of critics liked it
(20 reviews)
87% of users liked it
(844 ratings)

Sing Your Song, surveys the life and times of singer/actor/activist Harry Belafonte. From his rise to fame as a singer, inspired by Paul Robeson, and his experiences touring a segregated country, to his provocative crossover into Hollywood, Belafonte's groundbreaking career personifies the American… More Sing Your Song, surveys the life and times of singer/actor/activist Harry Belafonte. From his rise to fame as a singer, inspired by Paul Robeson, and his experiences touring a segregated country, to his provocative crossover into Hollywood, Belafonte's groundbreaking career personifies the American civil rights movement and impacted many other social justice movements. Rostock reveals Belafonte as a tenacious hands on activist, who worked intimately with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., mobilized celebrities for social justice, participated in the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, and took action to counter gang violence, prisons, and the incarceration of youth. -- (C) Official Site

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 40 min.
Directed By: Susanne Rostock
Genres: Documentary, Television, Musical & Performing Arts, Special Interest

In Theaters: Jan 13, 2012 Limited
On DVD: May 29, 2012
Studio: S2BN Films

Critic Reviews

Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor
The film's hagiographic tone is regrettable, but, it must be said, Belafonte's heroism is the real deal.
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times
A film that while quite personal in its storytelling comes without the rigor or the power of an independent filmmaking voice.
Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com
"Sing Your Song" is a vital document of American history, which I recommend to everyone, and also an attempt to massage the patriotic legacy of a complex and polarizing figure.
Manohla Dargis, New York Times
It's only fitting that Harry Belafonte's big, bountiful life has inspired an expansive, understandably hagiographic documentary, "Sing Your Song."
Melissa Anderson, Village Voice
A moving if occasionally wearying hagiography.
John Anderson, Variety
Sing Your Song does three things only a superior bio-doc can do: Tell a stirring life story, place that life in the context of its times, and portray it with the kind of depth and breadth that makes you wonder why it hasn't been told before.
Christopher Campbell, Movies.com
Belafonte is the real deal, an optimistic and inspiring hero whose life story and career narrative is also a journey of civil and human rights struggles and accomplishments.
Neil Smith, Total Film
Proves an inspiring watch, even if it does rather gloss over how his wives and children fit into the picture.
Hannah McGill, The List
This timely and thorough account of the extraordinary life of Harry Belafonte finds so much in its subject that it almost suffers by an over-abundance of material.
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times
"Harry Belafonte: Sing Your Song" smoothly rewinds an inspirational life.
David Noh, Film Journal International
As presented here, the epic, inspiring life of miraculously tireless star and activist Harry Belafonte is enough to make any of us feel like lazy bums, and should be screened at Occupy events the world over.
Stephanie Zacharek, Movieline
If nothing else, Sing Your Song works as a testament to Belafonte's drive and dedication to causes well outside the usual goals of simply making money.
Kalvin Henely, Slant Magazine
The documentary's pace and energy gives an urgency to the political activism central to the restless Harry Belafonte's remarkable life.
Edward Douglas, ComingSoon.net
An incredibly powerful film that will inform anyone who doesn't realize the huge contribution Belafonte has made to making the world a better place.
Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out New York
The footage gathered here is fun and exhilarating, making the case where a critical overview is lacking.
Donald J. Levit, ReelTalk Movie Reviews
The life of Harry Belafonte is so rich, truthful and hopeful that admirable 'Sing Your Song' can only give some idea of it.
Cynthia Fuchs, PopMatters
As Harry Belafonte embodies the idea that art and politics always mix, no matter the era, he also continues to act on that belief.
Nick Roddick, This is London
[It] does a lot more than celebrate a great entertainer: it charts Belafonte's ceaseless activism, which has seen him stand alongside both Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela.
Thomas Caldwell, Cinema Autopsy
Like its subject, Sing Your Song is a passionate film bursting with energy, music and often fury.
Fionnuala Halligan, Screen International
Harry Belafonte's life makes an extraordinary screen story.

Read all 20 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Nadira I

Probably one of the best documentaries I have ever seen. I love how passionate Harry Belafonte is about his activism in human rights - and he surely continue to inspire us and other entertainers. Really glad I get to know him because of this film, such a courageous human being. So… More
Probably one of the best documentaries I have ever seen. I love how passionate Harry Belafonte is about his activism in human rights - and he surely continue to inspire us and other entertainers. Really glad I get to know him because of this film, such a courageous human being. So many great quotes that I could get from this film. The most important thing that I get from watching this is we have to stick up to our ideals, no matter how hard the circumstances are. Watched this film from the 55th BFI London Film Festival.

Cast

            Harry Belafonte as Harry Belafonte

            Sidney Poitier as Sidney Poitier

            Leadbelly as Leadbelly

            Paul Robeson as Paul Robeson

            Marge Champion as Marge Champion

            Fran Scott Attaway as Fran Scott Attaway

            Nat 'King' Cole as Nat 'King' Cole

            Julian Bond as Julian Bond

            J. Edgar Hoover as J. Edgar Hoover

            Ed Sullivan as Ed Sullivan

            Dinah Shore as Dinah Shore

            Steve Allen as Steve Allen

            George Schlatter as George Schlatter

            Adrienne Belafonte Biesemeyer as Adrienne Belafonte Biesemeyer

            Dorothy Dandridge as Dorothy Dandridge

            Diahann Carroll as Diahann Carroll

            Mike Merrick as Mike Merrick

            Joan Fontaine as Joan Fontaine

            Inger Stevens as Inger Stevens

            Marlon Brando as Marlon Brando

            Julie Belafonte as Julie Belafonte

            Coretta Scott King as Coretta Scott King

            Martin Luther King Jr. as Martin Luther King Jr.

            Merv Griffin as Merv Griffin

            John F. Kennedy as John F. Kennedy

            Odette as Odette

            Gloria Lynne as Gloria Lynne

            Robert de Cormier as Robert de Cormier

            J. Richard Kennedy as J. Richard Kennedy

            Eleanor Roosevelt as Eleanor Roosevelt

            Tom Mboya as Tom Mboya

            Les Crane as Les Crane

            Nelson Mandela as Nelson Mandela

            Miriam Makeba as Miriam Makeba

            Robert F. Kennedy as Robert F. Kennedy

            Charlton Heston as Charlton Heston

            James Baldwin as James Baldwin

            Taylor Branch as Taylor Branch

            Paul Newman as Paul Newman

            David Belafonte as David Belafonte

            Shari Belafonte as Shari Belafonte

            Gina Belafonte as Gina Belafonte

            John Lewis as John Lewis

            Willie Blue as Willie Blue

            Fannie Lou Hamer as Fannie Lou Hamer

            Anthony Perkins as Anthony Perkins

            Nipsey Russell as Nipsey Russell

            Tony Bennett as Tony Bennett

            Shelley Winters as Shelley Winters

            Sammy Davis Jr. as Sammy Davis Jr.

            Nina Simone as Nina Simone

            Peter Paul And Mary as Peter Paul And Mary

            Joan Baez as Joan Baez

            Leon Bibb as Leon Bibb

            Clarence Jones as Clarence Jones

            Petula Clark as Petula Clark

            Whoopi Goldberg as Whoopi Goldberg

            Tom Smothers as Tom Smothers

            Dick Smothers as Dick Smothers

            Buffy Sainte-Marie as Buffy Sainte-Marie

            Dennis Banks as Dennis Banks

            Russell Means as Russell Means

            William Kunstler as William Kunstler

            Quincy Jones as Quincy Jones

            Ken Kragen as Ken Kragen

            Dr. Lloyd Greig as Dr. Lloyd Greig

            Muppets as Muppets

            Desmond Tutu as Desmond Tutu

            Bo Taylor as Bo Taylor

            Nane Alejandrez as Nane Alejandrez

            Marian Wright Edelman as Marian Wright Edelman

            Ruby Dee as Ruby Dee

            Juan Pacheco as Juan Pacheco

            Kwabana Nixonng as Kwabana Nixonng

            Carmen Perez as Carmen Perez

            Andrew Young as Andrew Young

            Adé Bantu as Adé Bantu

            Abd Al Malik as Abd Al Malik

            Pamela Belafonte as Pamela Belafonte

            David Dinkins, Sr. as David Dinkins
See full cast