Orange Revolution 2007
Distributed by Cinema Guild, 115 West 30th Street, Suite 800, New York, NY 10001; 212-685-6242
Produced by York Zimmerman
Directed by Steve York
DVD, color, 106 min.
College - Adult
European Studies, Political Science
Date Entered: 03/26/2008
Reviewed by Jessica Schomberg, Minnesota State University, MankatoThis documentary is about the non-violent political protest in the streets of Kyiv, Ukraine, in 2004, called the Orange Revolution.
The film starts in 2000 with the murder of a journalist shortly after he asked then-President Kuchma about corruption in the government. It then moves to 2004, to the election campaign of Viktor Yushchenko, who promised to end the corruption in Ukraine. The filmmakers explore events of the campaign, including the media blockade against Yushchenko; an attempt to poison Yushchenko with ricin, which the government-run media denied; and a faked attempt to assassinate Kuchma’s chosen successor, Victor Yanukovich. However, it is the events following the blatantly fraudulent elections in October 2004 which provide the core of this documentary—hundreds, then thousands, then tens of thousands Ukrainians coming to Kyiv to protest the election. Interviews with those present and onsite footage provide a picture of celebratory, peaceful protest through seventeen days of snow, ice, and bitter cold. A running theme throughout this documentary is that the protest was less about Yushchenko, and more about ending corruption and respecting the political process and rights of the people.
Orange Revolution uses original and archival footage and interviews with members of Yushchenko’s campaign and others. The dialog is primarily in Ukrainian with English dubbing or subtitles.
This very engaging, well-researched documentary may be of interest to students of modern Eastern European history and Political Science. Highly recommended for college and general audiences.