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The Power of the Powerless

A documentary film on Czechoslovakia's Velvet Revolution. 6:00 pm reception; 6:30 screening; discussion to follow.

Thursday, November 19, 2009
6:00 PM
A51 Humanities Building
Los Angeles, CA United States

Director: Cory Taylor. 78 min. Synopsis: History has shown that societies which fail to address past injustices are tragically destined to repeat the same mistakes.  Narrated by Academy Award winner Jeremy Irons, The Power of the Powerless, examines the harmful effects of erasing history, twenty years after the fall of communism in Czechoslovakia. Contrasting the experiences of those who fought against the communist regime, with the silent majority who supported it, The Power of the Powerless investigates why many Czechs today don't want their communist past dug up. Featuring original interviews with dissidents such as former President Vaclav Havel, this film tells the inspirational story of the Velvet Revolution of 1989, and asks why Czech youth aren't being taught about their own history.

 www.thepowerofthepowerless.org/film.htm

The screening will be followed by a conversation with Daniel Kumermann, Consul General of the Czech Republic and one of the signatories of Charter 77.

Sponsor(s): Center for European and Eurasian Studies, American Jewish Committee