Orange Revolution

Just how far would you go to protect your vote?

Steve York & Wiedenmeyer / USA / 2007 / 106 min / Russian, Ukrainian with English subtitles

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.

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Credits

Awards & Festivals

“Steve York pays testament to the true power of democracy with this informative investigation.” All Movie Guide

“ [A] lively account of the mass demonstrations that gripped Ukraine in 2004. York … nicely captures the excitement and volatility of the events on the ground, and his access to the uprising's key players makes for a timely and fascinating look at grassroots democracy in action.” Chicago Reader

“ The broad scope of the film and the brilliant way it is shot and put together makes of it almost a thriller where truth is stranger-- and more exciting -- than fiction. … Besides being an exciting historical documentation of a very recent series of events "Orange Revolution" will resonate strongly with the American electorate which sat in front of their TV sets helplessly as Mr. Bush stole the American presidential election in 2000!” Filmfestivals.com

“This excellent documentary chronicles the events before and after the disputed election with interviews with all the key players and superb footage of the protestors, braving Kiev’s cold weather to claim their democratic rights. …Plaudits are due both to the work of Steve York and the bravery of the Ukrainian people.” Prostamerika.com

“It feels like a repeat of the sordid U.S. election scandals, where voters were barred from doing their democratic duty and blame was placed on ballots and the process. But during the 2004 elections in the Ukraine -- where citizens had endured a visibly corrupt governing under President Kuchma and his endorsed, equally criminal successor, they refused to accept the lies. … a fascinating look at how true leveling power comes with unifying under an umbrella of a belief.” Seattle Post-Intelligencer

2007 Winner, Chicago International Documentary Festival, Chicago Doc President's Award

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