Beginning this Friday, Jim Brown’s new film “Pete Seeger: The Power of Song” will be shown at the IRC Center Theater in NYC. Showtimes are 11:05am, 1:10pm, 3:15, 5:25, 7:35 and 9:45pm. The theater is located at 323 Sixth Avenue and their box office number is 212 924-7771.

It took many years before Pete Seeger agreed to work with Brown on a documentary, but the wait would prove advantegous as the completed film has an important message for our current times.

Brown had a difficult task – chronicling the life of a man who was involved with major historical changes in the 20th and now 21st century and somehow documenting the diverse incidents in Seegers life without turning the film into a plea for the man’s sainthood. On many fronts, Brown has achieved that task.

Having seen the film several times, I believe that the films greatest appeal will be to those who have some knowledge of Pete Seeger. Folk music fans will find themselves in awe of the performances the film contains. After such a long career, where we have seen great emphasis placed on the activist side of Pete’s life, it is inspiring to watch Pete making music. It is easy to forget just how skilled he is on the banjo and how much great music he has shared. With fewer concert appearances in recent years, the film serves as a great reminder as to how Pete gets an audience involved in the concert.


I found the sequences that dealt with the civil rights movement of particular interest. While Pete downplays his role, the film documents how he was instrumental bringing the song “We Shall Overcome” to a wider audience. The song would be more than just a piece of music – it became the inspiration and the strength that helped propel the civil rights movement toward acheiving many goals in the 1960’s.

A film about Pete Seeger naturally dealt with Pete’s flirtation with communism and the trouble that would arise from that choice. There is footage from press conferences that took place at the Senate hearings where Pete pleaded the first ammendment to justify his reason for making honest choices.

Aside from a few minor technical concerns, my one criticism of the film was that I had wished a deeper explanation for the hatred that was shown to Pete Seeger by his “opponents”. The film grapically discussed the Peeksill riots, but Brown had a hard time finding subjects willing to discuss why they were throwing stones that fateful day. How can someones distate for another persons poltics drive someone to throw stones at another human being? When I spoke with Brown, he mentioned that former N.Y. Govenor Pataki’s father was among the stone throwers that fateful day. Pataki appeard later in the film to discuss the Clearwater- it would have been interesting to get his thoughts on what made his father partcipate. I would have loved to get more prespective on this, but perhaps that is the subject of another film.

Regardless, this is an important film that should be on everyone’s “Must See ” list. Those of us who are familiar with Pete will get a much deeper understand and the film will serve as an important lesson to future generations. As documentary directors are storytellers, Jim Brown tells a story of how one many stood up for his freedoms and in his “golden years” has found himself on the receiving end of platitudes and recognition – nothing that he wishes to have. Pete teaches us a lesson to make our own music and to make a difference.

(Special Note – Pete Seeger will be my very special guest on Sunday November 4th on WFDU-FM’s Traditions – Sundays from 3 to 6pm on 89.1, WFDI- FM. Pete will also make a rare concert appearance on Friday November 9th at FDU’s Wilson Proscenium Theater on the Hackensack side of the campus.)