A political thriller, character drama, and a clarion call to action, this riveting documentary portraying resistance to Hungary’s authoritarian leader Viktor Orban is perfectly relevant to this political moment.

In the September 10  2024 presidential debate, Donald Trump said “Viktor Orban, one of the most respected men, they call him a strong man, he is a tough person, smart, Prime Minister of Hungary, said why is he world blowing up, three years ago it wasn’t, because you need Trump back as President.”    Orban also enjoys a very close relationship to the Heritage Foundations, and his ideas are reflected in Project 2025.

Few politicians have proven as adept at undermining democracy as Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban. A hero to his country’s Christian conservative population as well as an acolyte to Donald Trump and the republican party, Orban fastens methodical steps to successfully chip away at Hungarian democratic institutions.

With unparalleled access, “Democracy Noir” follows three courageous activists – Timea, Babett, and Niko – as they reveal the layers of deception embedded within Orban’s government. Wielding expertise in law, journalism and healthcare, these women organize innovative ways to take on one of the West’s most powerful demagogues. But they face an increasingly well-financed and sophisticated opposition in Orban’s Fidesz party, who control the media.

“Democracy Noir” paints a damning portrait of how Orban, over the years, systematically destabilized the country’s democratic institutions for financial gain while enjoying widespread approval from Hungarian nationalists. The film reveals an urgent cautionary tale for all democracies through the story of Orban’s relentless work to build an autocratic white Christian state. But amidst this dark, new brand of authoritarianism, vital resistance remains. Through the testimony and actions of Timea, Babett and Niko, we not only witness the terror of a democracy in free fall, we see first-hand what it takes to try and claw precious freedoms back from the abyss. “Democracy Noir” serves as a warning and a ray of hope: it reveals the undemocratic nature of Orban’s regime and the courage of three women, representing many, who will not acquiesce.

Across the country, reporters, pundits, and others have referred to the current election as “The Most Important Election of Our Lifetime”.  Yet here in northern Alameda County, an unprecedented election is already certain as numerous incumbents are vacating their seats, guaranteeing that newcomers will be taking office for US Congress, State Senate, County Supervisor, Berkeley Mayor, half of the Berkeley City Council and Oakland School Board seats up for election, 3 out of the 5 Oakland City Council seats on the ballot, Oakland City Attorney, and all 4 of the EBMUD and EBRPD seats we’ll be voting on in our county.  Plus there will be unprecedented recall election votes on District Attorney Pamela Price and Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, as well as a significant opportunity for Green Party Presidential candidate Jill Stein, who is polling at 29% among Muslim voters and leading the field in several key states — ahead of both Harris and Trump.

In addition to Jill Stein and the two recall elections, we’ll also be discussing the campaigns of Jovanka Beckles for State Senate, Kate Harrison for Berkeley Mayor, Jenny Guarino for Berkeley City Council, and more.  Please join us this Sunday at 5:00 pm for “The Most Important Election of Our Lifetime”.

Elana Auerbach is an activist and writer who ran in a special election for Berkeley City Council earlier this year.  She has served on the Berkeley Tenants Union steering committee and was also a member of Berkeley Copwatch for many years.  She wrote a Reimagining Berkeley column for the “Berkeley Times” and organized for a Berkeley Ceasefire Resolution in Gaza, as well as with the Berkeley Unified School District Jewish parents for Collective Liberation.

Sean Dougherty was the March 2024 Green Party candidate for California’s 19 Congressional District (from southern Santa Clara county to San Luis Obispo county).  He has worked as an engineer for consumer products like smartphones and laptops since the late 90’s and previously was an advisory group member for Santa Cruz for Bernie.  He is now a co-chair of the Membership and Outreach Committee of the California Green Party.

Negeene Mosaed is Chair of the Berkeley Tenants Union, a member of Friends of Adeline, and in 2022 was a candidate for Berkeley’s Rent Board.  She also is the owner of Berkeley Community Physical Therapy, the only clinic serving Medi-Cal and Medicare, and most types of insurance, and having the lowest cash pay rate in the greater Bay Area, as a commitment to serve and provide the highest quality of care to all community members.  Negeene was involved in organizing for a ceasefire resolution in Palestine, at the Berkeley city Council, and was one of the lead organizers of that movement in Berkeley.

BK Woodson, Sr. is a Steering Committee member of the “Respect Our Vote” (No Recalls) coalition.  He is a director of “Faith in Action, East Bay” and pastor of the Bay Area Christian Connection. October 13th, 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm Via Zoom: please see the access info below