DVD, Videorecording, Projected Medium, Visual Materials

The power of the powerless [videorecording] / Agora Productions presents ; a film by Cory Taylor ; produced by Jonathan Terra, Darin Nellis ; written and directed by Cory Taylor.

Home version.

[Los Angeles, Calif.] : Agora Productions, 2009.

1 videodisc (78 min.) : sd., col. with b&w sequences ; 4 3/4 in.

A moving tribute to peaceful revolution. The 80's introduction of 'Glasnost and Perestroika'. Student leaders in the late 80's sought to commemorate the death of a student protester against the Nazi occupation were granted permission by the communists to hold a rally on Nov. 17 1989. The students conspired to lead a march from their designated rally point into the symbolic center of Czech government, Wenceslas square. However, the government learned of the plan and cordoned off the area with special forces and riot police. Cordoned off and surrounded the 80,000 strong students sat and attempted to wait out the police. Unfortunately, the police attacked and in the mêlée one student died.

Narrated by Academy Award winner Jeremy Irons, "The Power of the Powerless" explores Czechoslovakia's legacy of communist rule and the struggle against it: From the iron-fisted Stalinist government of the 1950s; through the vibrant and politically active Prague Spring of the 1960s; the hard-line backlash of the 1970s; and finally the bloodless revolution of 1989. At the heart of the film is the story of blacklisted playwright Václav Havel and his fellow dissidents who, for two decades, spoke out against totalitarianism. The film culminates with the student-led movement in Prague, which sparked 1989's Velvet Revolution and drew a half-million people into the streets, catapulting Václav Havel into the presidency. The documentary features rare and never-before-seen interviews with key figures of the Velvet Revolution including Václav Havel. The participation of young Czechs in the film, who reveal that much of their country's recent history has already been forgotten, makes the film all the more pertinent for young viewers. Directed by Primetime Emmy Award winner Cory Taylor and completed in 2009, "The Power of the Powerless" has already been broadcast in 40 countries on 10 television networks, featured in 20 international film festivals, won multiple awards, and is currently being used by human rights organizations to encourage dissidents struggling in non-democratic countries including Burma.

Havel, Václav.

Student movements -- Czechoslovakia -- History.

Communism -- Czechoslovakia -- History.

Documentary films.

Nonfiction films.

Feature films.

Czechoslovakia -- History -- Velvet Revolution, 1989.

Czechoslovakia -- Politics and government -- 1968-1989.

Czech Republic -- History.

Taylor, Cory.

Terra, Jonathan.

Nellis, Darin.

Havel, Václav.

Irons, Jeremy, 1948-

Agora Productions.

Originally produced as a documentary film in 2009.

DVD includes the full-length (78 min.) version of the film.

DVD extras (20 min.): an interview with Václav Havel; The role of young people; A keg of plum brandy; Director's comments.

Photographer and editor, Cory Taylor ; music, James T. Sale.

Narrator, Jeremy Irons.

DVD (NTSC, all regions); stereo. sound mix.

In English and Czech with English subtitles.

Sacramento Music & Film Festival, Documentary Feature Audience Award Winner, 2009

Ojai Film Festival, Documentary Feature Honorable Mention Award, 2009

Mexico International Film Festival, Golden Palm Award Winner, 2009

9786315375026

6315375022

861708877

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417894

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DVD 943.7043 Power of

[videorecording]