Film Screening of "Those Who Dare" (2015) with introduction by Jon Baldvin Hannibalsson, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iceland, 1988-1995. 

When: Monday, October 19
Where: Cubberley Auditorium, 485 Lasuen Mall
Contact: Liisi Esse or CREEES, 650-725-2563

RSVP. This event is free and open to the public.

6:00-6:45pm: Reception
6:45-7:15pm: Introduction by Jon Baldvin Hannibalsson (Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iceland, 1988-1995)
7:15-8:15pm Screening of the film
8:15-8:45pm Q&A with Jon Baldvin Hannibalsson

"Those Who Dare" outlines the Baltic nations’ (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania’s) struggle for the restoration of their independence, from 1986-1991, Gorbachev's perestroika paving the way. It recaptures the dramatic course of events in the Baltic capitals of Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn in January 1991 when the Soviet military attempted to brutally suppress the independence movements. 

At that moment, Jón Baldvin Hannibalsson, the minister of foreign affairs of Iceland, was the only western foreign minister to travel to the Baltic capitals to show his support, thus inscribing Iceland in golden letters in the minds of the Baltic people.
Hannibalsson’s personal connections and interest in the USSR were the driving force behind Iceland’s support for the freedom of the Baltic states. From 1989 onwards, he, along with Danish Foreign Minister Uffe Elleman Jensen worked hard to support the Baltic nations’ struggle at the UN, in the European Council, within the Nordic Council, within NATO, at the North Atlantic Council meetings and elsewhere in the international arena. During this process, both Hannibalsson and Jensen understood that little interest was shown by their colleagues for this corner of the world, even thought they had been illegally annexed during the Second World War.
 

The superpowers had other interests, a war in Iraq, the unification of Germany - and did not see fit to rock Gorbachev’s boat.
In August 1991, following the coup d’etat in Moscow Iceland became the first country to recognize the Baltic countries. In December, The Soviet Union formally ceased to exist.

Following this opening event, the Baltic Film Series will feature: "Dangerous Summer" (2000), "In the Crosswind" (2014), and "Land of Songs" (2014). Please see our events page for a full listing of films, event times and locations, and film synopses.

*With funding from the US Department of Education Title VI National Resources Centers Grant

For more information, visit the Center for Russian, East European and Eursian Studies website.

Sponsored by Stanford University Libraries and Center for Russian, East European & Eurasian  Studies (CREEES).

RSVP requested.
Free and open to the public.