Pete Seeger: The Power of Song
| Pete Seeger: The Power of Song | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Jim Brown |
| Starring | Pete Seeger |
| Distributed by | The Weinstein Company |
Release date |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Pete Seeger: The Power of Song is a 2007 American documentary film directed by Jim Brown about the life and music of the folk singer Pete Seeger.[1][2] It was produced by The Weinstein Company and Concert Productions International. The film was executive produced by Seeger's wife, filmmaker Toshi Seeger.[3][4]
Cast
In addition to Seeger family members, interviewees include:
- Pete Seeger
- Arlo Guthrie
- Bruce Springsteen
- Bob Dylan
- Joan Baez
- Tom Paxton
- Mary Travers
- Natalie Maines
Reception
The Hollywood Reporter wrote: "Featuring a wealth of archival material, vintage performance clips and interviews with the ever-dignified subject himself, the documentary provides a fairly comprehensive portrait of Seeger's decades-long musical career and social activism. If at times the proceedings become a bit sentimental, it's well befitting a pop star who lives in a house that he built with his own hands and who still spends his spare time singing to schoolchildren and participating in anti-war and environmental causes."[5]
Variety wrote: "Brown beautifully works Seeger's family life into the story ... illustrating how he incorporated rigid principles of simplicity and environmental conservation into daily life. ... No novice to docus (his last pic wasThe Weavers: Wasn't That a Time!), Brown fills the screen with handsome, full-frame talking heads that make every commentary come alive. Archival footage and photos are seamlessly woven in, but best of all is the music remastering, each song and concert performance gorgeously reproduced."[6]
The Village Voice wrote: "This laudatory but not quite fawning 93-minute documentary takes a greatest-hits approach to the life and song of the now 88-year-old agit-folk musician. ... Shallow, very officially sanctioned, and overly compressed, The Power of Song plays like a PBS infomercial for the inevitable DVD box set, which will surely include even more archival footage. Director Jim Brown is perhaps too determined to prove the obvious: that Seeger has lived a long, full, admirable life."[7]
Accolades
The film won a 2008 Emmy Award for Outstanding Nonfiction Series.[8]
Home media
The film was released on DVD in 2008 by Genius Products.
References
- ^ "Pete Seeger: The Power of Song". American Film Institute Catalog. Retrieved February 22, 2026.
- ^ Burr, Ty (September 28, 2007). "A full, if incomplete, look at life of Pete Seeger". The Boston Globe.
- ^ Martin, Douglas (July 11, 2013). "Toshi Seeger, Wife of Folk-Singing Legend, Dies at 91". The New York Times. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
- ^ "Toshi Seeger, Wife of Pete Seeger, Dies at 91". Rafu Shimpo. July 19, 2013. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
- ^ Scheck, Frank (May 12, 2007). "Pete Seeger: The Power of Song". The Hollywood Reporter. 399 (35): 24. ProQuest 235396031.
- ^ "Pete Seeger: The Power of Song". Variety. 406 (13): 50. May 14, 2007. ProQuest 236371435.
- ^ "Pete Seeger: The Power of Song". The Village Voice. October 24, 2007. Retrieved February 26, 2026.
- ^ "2008 - 60th Emmy Awards - Outstanding Nonfiction Series". televisionacademy.com. Retrieved February 26, 2026.