Orange Revolution
It was just after 2 a.m. on November 22, 2004, when the call went out: “The time has come to defend your life and Ukraine. Your victory depends upon how many people are ready to say ‘No’ to this government, ‘No’ to a total falsification of the elections.”
Regime-controlled media claimed victory for Viktor Yanukovych, handpicked by the corrupt sitting president. But credible exit polls showed Viktor Yushchenko, the opposition candidate, had won.
It was shocking enough that Yushchenko had been poisoned -- and nearly killed-- while on the campaign trail. When reports came in of blatant voter intimidation and damaged ballots, people were outraged. When they realized election officials were in on the fraud, the people had had enough.
In freezing temperatures, over one million citizens poured into the streets of Kyiv and took up residence there. They marched in protest and formed human barricades around government buildings, paralyzing all state functions. Restaurants donated food, businessmen sent tents, and individuals brought blankets, clothing, and money. At night, rock bands energized the protesters.
For 17 days, a group of ordinary citizens engaged in extraordinary acts of political protest. Capturing the songs and spirit of this moment in history, Orange Revolution tells the story of a people united, not by one leader or one party, but by one idea: to defend their vote.
Orange Revolution premiered April 1, 2007 at the Chicago International Documentary Film Festival where it won the Chicago Doc President's Award. Other Festival Screenings: Hot Docs, San Francisco, Seattle, Milwaukee, Hot Springs, United Nations Association - Stanford University, AFI, Anchorage, Melbourne Human Rights, Ukraine's International Rights Protection Festival, DOCNZ of New Zealand, and the 7islands International Film Festival in Mumbia, India. Length: 92 minutes.
For more information about the film, dates and time of broadcasts and screenings in your area, and a downloadable study guide suitable for discussion and classroom use, please visit www.OrangeRevolutionMovie.com.
Orange Revolution is distributed in the North American educational market by The Cinema Guild. To order a DVD for your schools and library, click here.
You can buy a DVD for your own personal home viewing from our website or from Amazon.
If you are interested in arranging a screening in your area, please send your request to orange@yorkzim.com.