Now showing in the National Library of Wales Peniarth room is The Song We Sing Is About Freedom (Paulus Alajos,1975, 17m).
In its 50th anniversary year, the film follows exchange visits between Côr y Brythoniaid, a male voice choir from Blaenau Ffestiniog, and The Zoltan Kodaly Male Voice Choir from the United Incandescent Lamp and Electrical Co. Ltd. Factory in Tungsram, near Budapest, Hungary, in a bid to make connections and share goodwill, despite the political situation of the Cold War.
This uplifting film, culminating in a performance of the titular Hungarian song by the combined choirs, reveals a shared humanity, regardless of differences.
“Lightly swinging, Skywards winging, Victory bringing, The song, steady, steely, It soars up freely! And ringing tells you, Life is full of joy! […] The song we sing is about freedom, Listen to it nations, peoples, friends […] We want peace and freedom!”
This film can also be watched on the BFI Player: https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-the-song-we-sing-is-about-freedom-1975-online
Category: News