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 been screened in select U.S. theaters, seen in 30 countries on TV networks such as NHK-Japan, ABC-Australia and Histoire-France, screened at 27 international film festivals, and won multiple awards. In addition, the film’s companion curriculum is now being used by universities around the world including Stanford, Harvard, USC, Vanderbilt, Duke, Brown and many others.

For its potent pro-democracy message, a number of international human rights organizations including People in Need (PIN) one of Europe’s largest, are currently distributing “The Power of the Powerless” through discreet channels to encourage dissidents seeking freedom through nonviolent means. Countries and regions where the film is being promoted by human rights organizations include the Middle East, Burma and Cuba. “The Power of the Powerless” played a role in encouraging non-violence behind the scenes in several countries involved in the Arab Spring. On the DVB satellite channel (Democratic Voice of Burma) “The Power of the Powerless” has already reached 10 million households inside Burma’s totalitarian state. To watch the trailer or learn more go to www.thepowerofthepowerless.org/trailer.