Songs of War: Music as a Weapon
Music is a Weapon
Genres
Overview
Music elates, touches the soul and bypasses reason. Music is magic. But precisely this magic can turn it into an insidious weapon for music and violence belong together. The brutal power of African war dances, the ferocity of Maori Hakas, the earth-shattering roar of US sound guns blasting Metallica at Taliban hideouts the principle is always the same: Aggressive sounds demoralise the enemy and whip the allies into a frenzy. In Songs of War, director Tristan Chytroschek explores the extraordinary harmony between music and violence. Sesame Street composer, Christopher Cerf, always wanted his music to be fun and entertaining. But then he learned that his songs had been used to torture prisoners in Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib. He is stunned by this abuse of his work and wants to find out how this could happen.
Details
Budget
$0
Revenue
$0
Runtime
52 min
Release Date
2010-02-25
Status
Released
Original Language
English
Vote Count
1
Vote Average
7.5
Christopher Cerf
Presenter
Thomas Keenan
Human Rights Project, Bard College, New York
Chris Arendt
Former Guard, Guantanamo Bay
Herb Friedman
Psychological Operations Expert, US Army
Mike Ritz
Former Interrogator, US Army
Nathalie Gosselin
Music Psychologist, Université de Montréal
Moazzam Begg
Former Detainee, Guantanamo Bay And Bagram
Morag Josephine Grant
Musicologist, University Of Göttingen
Mike Luce
Drowning Pool
C.J. Pierce
Drowning Pool
Vahan Simidian II
CEO, HPV Technologies
7.3
The Red Elvis
A documentary on the late American entertainer Dean Reed, who became a huge star in East Germany after settling there in 1973.
2007-02-13 | de
6.8
Shine a Light
Martin Scorsese and the Rolling Stones unite in "Shine A Light," a look at The Rolling Stones." Scorsese filmed the Stones over a two-day period at the intimate Beacon Theater in New York City in fall 2006. Cinematographers capture the raw energy of the legendary band.
2008-04-04 | en
3.0
Bruce Springsteen's High Hopes
Follow Bruce Springsteen during the making of his 18th studio album, 'High Hopes,' in this special. Rare behind-the-scenes footage and rehearsal segments are interspersed with exclusive E Street Band tour footage and revealing interviews with Springsteen and album collaborator Tom Morello, guitarist for Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave.
2014-04-05 | en
8.0
The Whole Gritty City
Young members of 3 New Orleans school marching bands grow up in America's most musical city, and one of its most dangerous. Their band directors get them ready to perform in the Mardi Gras parades, and teach them to succeed and to survive.
2013-10-12 | en
7.1
The Story of the Weeping Camel
When a Mongolian nomadic family's newest camel colt is rejected by its mother, a musician is needed for a ritual to change her mind.
2003-06-29 | mn
7.1
Fahrenheit 9/11
Michael Moore's view on how the Bush administration allegedly used the tragic events on 9/11 to push forward its agenda for unjust wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
2004-06-25 | en
7.2
Now More than Ever: The History of Chicago
The history of legendary rock band Chicago is chronicled from their inception in 1967 all the way to the present.
2016-02-20 | en
0.0
Abused by Mum: The Ruby Franke Scandal
Ruby Franke's rise as a "momfluencer" with millions of followers hid a nightmare; when her son fled and alerted a neighbor about the abuse, police raided her home, rescuing her children.
2024-05-13 | en
6.7
Full Metal Village
The film describes the microcosmos of the small village Wacken and shows the clash of the cultures, before and during the biggest heavy metal festival in Europe.
2007-04-19 | de
9.7
Bring Me the Horizon: Live at the Royal Albert Hall
Live at the Royal Albert Hall is the second live album and video by British rock band Bring Me The Horizon. It was recorded on 22 April 2016 at thr Royal Albert Hall, with accompaniment from the Parallax Orchestra.
2016-04-22 | en
6.9
Last Men in Aleppo
Winner of the Grand Jury Documentary prize at the Sundance Film Festival, Syrian filmmaker Feras Fayyad’s breathtaking work — a searing example of boots-on-the-ground reportage — follows the efforts of the internationally recognized White Helmets, an organization consisting of ordinary citizens who are the first to rush towards military strikes and attacks in the hope of saving lives. Incorporating moments of both heart-pounding suspense and improbable beauty, the documentary draws us into the lives of three of its founders — Khaled, Subhi, and Mahmoud — as they grapple with the chaos around them and struggle with an ever-present dilemma: do they flee or stay and fight for their country?
2017-02-27 | da
8.0
Eighth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition: Here to Make Music
Emmy Award winning documentary, directed by Peter Rosen, about the Eighth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 1989, featuring interviews with the contestants and jurists, and footage from rehearsals and performances, including by competition winner Alexei Sultanov.
1989-01-01 | en
5.4
Self Discovery for Social Survival
Self Discovery for Social Survival is a collaborative surf and music film produced by Brooklyn based record label, Mexican Summer and Pilgrim Surf + Supply, a New York based surf and outdoor brand. Filmed in Mexico, the Maldives and Iceland in three separate vignettes, musicians (Allah Las, Connan Mockasin, Andrew Van Wyngarden of MGMT, and Peaking Lights) alongside pro-surfers,embark on a journey that combines a symbiotic relationship between music and the waves, the environment, and local culture. Poetically narrated by the legendary avant-garde film maker Jonas Mekas.
2019-06-15 | en
7.3
Gimme Shelter
A detailed chronicle of the famous 1969 tour of the United States by the British rock band The Rolling Stones, which culminated with the disastrous and tragic concert held on December 6 at the Altamont Speedway Free Festival, an event of historical significance, as it marked the end of an era: the generation of peace and love suddenly became the generation of disillusionment.
1970-12-13 | en
0.0
We Have Our Own Song - The Music Movie
The film documents the alternative festival, made to protest against the Eurovision Song Contest held in Stockholm 1975. There are many Swedish and international artists on stage, as well as some clips from speeches, riots, civil wars, and the people at the song contest itself.
1976-06-28 | sv
8.2
Night and Fog
Filmmaker Alain Resnais documents the atrocities behind the walls of Hitler's concentration camps.
1959-04-27 | fr
6.7
The Last Angel of History
An examination of the hitherto unexplored relationships between Pan-African culture, science fiction, intergalactic travel, and rapidly progressing computer technology.
1996-09-11 | en
1.0
Kanye West: College Dropout [Video Anthology]
A collection of music videos and behind the scenes footage released to promote Kanye West's upcoming debut album, College Dropout. The compilation features the videos to the previously unreleased "Two Words", "Slow Jamz", "Through the Wire", "All Falls Down", the three versions of "Jesus Walks", and "The New Workout Plan", all previously unseen before its release.
2005-03-22 | en
5.9
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
The 29th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony took place on Thursday, April 10, 2014 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The 2014 Ceremony was open to the public, as it had been for the Induction Ceremonies in Cleveland (2009, 2012) and Los Angeles (2013). This was the first time that the event was held in New York. With performances by Peter Gabriel, Hall and Oates, KISS, Nirvana, Linda Ronstadt, and Cat Stevens.
2014-05-31 | en
8.0
The Queen Phenomenon
Retrospective documentary about the British rock band "Queen", from the 1970s till the death of Freddie Mercury, victim of AIDS. Includes interviews with the band members, friends and fans, behind the scenes material, the making of music videos, concerts and lots of music.
1995-12-31 | en