PETE SEEGER DOCUMENTARY TO PREMIERE AT TRIBECCA FILM FESTIVAL
The film will trace the life, accomplishments and influence of Pete Seeger. It is also a story of American in the 20th Century. Seeger was born into a upper class New England musical family that included his musicologist/father Charles Seeger. Early on, Pete learned the power of song to create social change. He left Harvard University and began traveling the country and discovering its song. After hearing the five string banjo for the first time, Pete realized his “career” would involve the art of teaching people to make their own music.
He became friends with Woody Guthrie as well as the political left. A card carrying member of the Communist Party in his early years, Seegers politics would become the basis for his blacklisting during the 1950’s and set up seven years of court battles. Through it all, Pete survived and triumphed. He became a father-figure to the folk revival and continues to influence not only the music, but the revolution for social change as well.
The documentary was directed by Jim Brown, no stranger to the Seeger story as he also directed the critically acclaimed 1982 documentary “Wasn’t That A Time“, a documentary about Pete’s historic reunion with the original Weavers. Brown has directed several other films and PBS programs that involved folk music including “We Shall Overcome“, “A Vision Shared“, and “Woody Guthrie: Hard Travelin’ “.
“Pete Seeger: The Power of Song” was produced by Norman Lear and Toshi Seeger.
The documentary will be shown three times at the Tribecca Film Festival –
Sun, Apr 29, 8:30pm
Pace Schimmel Center
3 Spruce Street (bet. Park Row and Gold Street)
Tickets – $25
Wed, May 2, 4:30pm
AMC Village VII Theater 2
66 Third Avenue (at 11th Street)
Tickets – $14
Fri, May 4, 5:30pm
AMC Kips Bay Theater 12
570 Second Avenue (at 32nd Street)
Tickets – $14