The Gingerbread Revolution

Art meets real life in this absorbing documentary about the extraordinary events that overtook the filming of the feature film The Last Butterfly in Czechoslovakia during the latter half of 1989. Based on a true story, the American-produced The Last Butterfly centered on the plight of a mime (played by British actor Tom Courtenay) who was coerced by the Nazis into providing their version of politically correct entertainment. Directed by Czech dissident director, and starring dissident actors, The Last Butterfly tried to suggest that there were marked similarities between the story and contemporary Czechoslovakia. On November 17, 1989, a student protest led to a clash with riot police, and though no one died, quickly gained notoriety among the people as a "massacre." Poor Britisher Courtenay showed up for work one day and realized that reality had taken over--the actors were on strike, out protesting and traveling to countryside villages in an attempt to get the word out. How the thespian community lent their hand to what would later be called the "velvet revolution" and rejoiced at the installation of fellow artist, playwright Vaclav Havel, as head of government, is the uplifting story told in The Gingerbread Revolution. An excellent documentary. Highly recommended. (Available from: New Dimension Media, 85803 Lorane Hwy, Eugene, OR 97405; 1-800-288-4456.)