When you think about colonialism, you usually think of the imperialist expansions in Africa, the Americas, Australia, and Asia. The European colonialism of the Sami people in Norway and the Greenland Inuits in Denmark are often forgotten. SUMÉ – SOUND OF A REVOLUTION is about the Greenlandic rock band Sumé who put out the first album in Greenlandic in 1973 and became the mouthpiece for the student movement. There was no political representation in Greenland in the 70s, only a district administrator. All political decisions were made in the Danish parliament in Copenhagen. The students demanded automony and independence from the Danish colonial powers. Sumé provided the soundtrack. The cover of their first LP showed a Greendlandic killing a viking and triumphantly holding his torn-off arm. This was too crass for the older Greenlandics but the younger generation were thrilled about Sumé. Director Inuk Silis Hoegh places a red guitar case in different, spectacular Greenlandic landscapes and shows the reactions of old fans and younger Greenlandics towards Sumé’s music. He talks to the former bandmates who could only play together during their studies in Copenhagen. Many of their songs are documented in 8mm and 16mm film that illustrate the social conditions of the Greenlandic Inuits but also the enthusiasm and engagement of the fans. The images and films from the Greenland tour, which was hard to manage due to Greenland’s sheer size, are especially beautiful. A fascinating peer into political pop history and the Greenlandic autonomy movement, which still hasn't reached its goal.

Hannes Stein

Translation: Elinor Lewy