Film Documents Upstate New Yorks Forgotten War

ANDES — The Anti-Rent War is a commonly-referred to yet little-studied portion of this nation’s history. Comprising much of the Hudson Valley, along with Delaware, Albany, Greene, and Schoharie Counties, the struggles of the 1830s and 1840s helped spark a movement that affected national politics.

Victoria Kupchinetsky and Misha Gutkin had the skill to document the dramatic events of the 19th century in Upstate, New York. Their years as journalists after coming to the United States in the waning days of the Soviet Union let them tell the story. However, making it into a movie was a work in progress.

Part of the story is personal, said Kupchinetsky. Her family had been farmers targeted by the communist regime of Josef Stalin. They wouldn’t talk about the extent of the persecution for years, until the USSR began opening up in its last years.

Kupchinetsky and Gutkin first came to Andes ten years ago to visit friends. During the trip, the group went to the Andes Community Day parade. Along the historic main street of the hamlet, figures marched wearing “bizarre outfits,” Kupchinetsky said. The announcer said “Welcome to the town that shot the sheriff.

Andes’ Community Day is a popular celebration each year, taking place around the anniversary of the Aug. 6, murder of Delaware County Undersheriff Osman Steele in 1845. The killing happened when the officer was taking part in a sheriff's sale selling the property of a local farmer behind on back rent. The incident caused the state to declare a state of insurrection, leading to the arrest of 248 people and the murderers to be sentenced to life in prison.

The origins of the Anti-Rent War came from the unique colonial history of New York. The settlement of New Netherland by the Dutch allowed for the formation of the Patroon Systems, a system of large manors not unlike the feudal system of Europe. Poor farmers worked on these large farms, often clustered around the Hudson Valley, in which they were forced to pay high rent costs and penalties for selling their leases. After the death of one of the major landholders, Stephen Van Rensselaer III and the economic depression of the Panic of 1837, there was a widespread revolt across much of Upstate. 

The conflict lasted between 1839 and 1845, and included major events in our paper's coverage area. There was a meeting of poor farmers who issued a declaration of independence in Berne, in the hill towns of Albany County. The effort grew to tens of thousands of renters and often modeled after the patriots of the American Revolution. 

This included dressing as Natives, similar to those who impersonated Mohawks at the Boston Tea Party. From this, the "Calico Indians" gave us a common nickname for the conflict, the "Calico Rebellion."

Part of the rebellion occurred during the 1843-1844 tenure of Gov. William C. Bouck, who is the only governor to come from Schoharie County. He had previously served as Schoharie County's sheriff 30 years earlier. Even though the governor sympathised with the rebels, he nonetheless felt compelled to enforce the law and crack down on them.

Supporters of the Anti-Renters were a significant influence on the Free Soil movement, which ran former President (and New York Governor) Martin Van Buren as its candidate in 1848. The movement stood against slavery and helped influence Abraham Lincoln’s signing of the Homestead Act in 1862.

Kupchinetsky and Gutkin started to ask around following the parade. They had heard about the assertion of “rights” and farmers’ efforts “for economic independence.” The parade had also featured a float that touted the “Beginning of the End of Feudalism.”

It was “very different” to make a film, said Kupchinetsky. The effort has taken ten years and has been a completely independent effort, she said.

“A true indy through and through.”

This was also the couple’s first effort as the director of a film. They did not know the process of producing a film, but wanted to follow up on the “fascinating” story, which Kupchinetsky said had “huge potential” and Gutkin called “very striking.”

The two were especially interested in the grassroots nature of the rebellion and began meeting the descendants of the rebels.

At least one family still had the original Calico Indian costume and showed the film makers. The Hubbell family of Kelly Corners in Delaware County not only had the outfit, but also a flag at the farm that describes it as the oldest continuously-run homestead in the county. Their descendants were among those who benefited from the rebellion and were able to purchase land.

In another case, the late Barbara Cole had one of the costumes and donated it to the Andes Historical Society. The family had put on the costume to scare children.

The documentary brought the filmmakers to get to know many people in the area, and showed a “discovery of this American world,” said. Kupchinetsky. She had attended New York University and had previously seen New York as the city that bears the same name.

“New York is New York,” she said.

However, when visiting various places and people Upstate, there was a realization that contrasted with the stereotypes of rural living.

Kupchinetsky described a “very genuine curiosity about the story.”

There was a bit of shame among some descendants who took part in the rebellion, putting away the costumes and living in the shadow of the undersheriff’s murder. Even the Hubbells didn’t share this info openly for years. It was a “chance to approach their past once more,” said Kupchinetsky.

Gutkin said that while some know about the conflict, many “juicy” details are often unsaid, including its impact on the nation’s politics.

“I’m never bored with it,” he said. Both he and Kupchinetsky hoped that it would be utilized more in the educational curriculum.

Despite this, the film had its challenges, with Kupchinetsky describing the creative process as “very tricky.” Putting together such a film was an “enchanted forest” in which it’s not clear where it will lead.

“Suprise after surprise,” she said.

With assistance from the two filmmakers, crowdfunding, a small grant from the NYS Arts Council, and donations, the film is now complete. The film has comprehensive original footage, including influences from Roger Hecht’s songs of the Anti-Rent War.

Both Kupchinetsky and Gutkin described an “incredible” response to the film. It premiered at the 2024 Dances with Films Festival at Regal Union Square in Los Angeles. The filmmakers applied to a number of festivals with rigorous selection processes. It became a featured documentary.

The showing in New York City was a turning point. Neither knew how the film would be received. The energy was “great” and people lined up to thank the filmmakers. It then showed at the Anthem Film Festival in Palm Springs, California.

“You never know how the story will come out,” Kupchinetsky said.

All of the struggle and difficulty was worth it to them.

“As immigrants and storytellers and someone discovering America,” it was important to Kupchinetsky and Gutkin. Kupchinetsky said that she was “humbly proud” of the project. It showed a story of “people connected with the land” and a significant part of our area and state’s history.

The two are now working on a second film, chronicling opposition to the former Constitution Pipeline project.

There are several upcoming showings of the film. This includes Sunday Oct. 5 at 2pm at the New York State Museum in Albany and Tuesday Oct. 15 at SUNY Oneonta at 7pm. At the end of October (date to be determined, there will be a showing at Andes Central School). On Friday Nov. 14 the film will be shown at Glimmerglass Film Days near Cooperstown.

The movie’s trailer can be seen here: https://vimeo.com/1027115940/5a9fda361e. More information can be found here: https://www.calicorebellion.com/.