I thought "Vengo" was the best movie about Gypsy people I ever saw. Until I saw "Gadjo Dilo".
At first, this film seems to be a story about a French guy (Stephane) who travels to Romania in search of an old Gypsy (the better term is Roma - not to be confused with Romanian) singer his dad used to like. Turns out this is a complex film about the life and culture of a group of Roma people who lived on the outskirts of a Romanian village, and their rocky relationship with the Romanians.
Being ignorant of the past history between the Roma and the Romanians and the prejudices that have stemmed from it, Stephane approaches the Roma people with his seemingly unassuming, trusting attitude, which eventually earns him their trust and affection.
I particularly loved Sabina's character, her sometimes outrageous irreverence and and her passionate nature. The scene where she cannot stand still and quiet while Stephane tries to record a singer in a pub says a lot.
The more Stephane learns about the people who allowed him to live in their midst, sees them as they are, listens to their music, watches their customs, the more bewitched he becomes. The scene at the end, when he burries the tapes with the music recordings, pours the liquor on top and dances around them the way he saw the Roma do it when they pay their respects at a deceased's grave, speaks volumes. He knows now that his recordings could not encompass who these people were and what their music meant, plus, he had no need for any recordings anymore because he was no longer an outsider looking in. You can see it in Sabina's eyes, as she watches him, smiling, that she knew he now saw her and her people not just with his eyes, but his heart too, and his little dance was an homage to them.
At first, this film seems to be a story about a French guy (Stephane) who travels to Romania in search of an old Gypsy (the better term is Roma - not to be confused with Romanian) singer his dad used to like. Turns out this is a complex film about the life and culture of a group of Roma people who lived on the outskirts of a Romanian village, and their rocky relationship with the Romanians.
Being ignorant of the past history between the Roma and the Romanians and the prejudices that have stemmed from it, Stephane approaches the Roma people with his seemingly unassuming, trusting attitude, which eventually earns him their trust and affection.
I particularly loved Sabina's character, her sometimes outrageous irreverence and and her passionate nature. The scene where she cannot stand still and quiet while Stephane tries to record a singer in a pub says a lot.
The more Stephane learns about the people who allowed him to live in their midst, sees them as they are, listens to their music, watches their customs, the more bewitched he becomes. The scene at the end, when he burries the tapes with the music recordings, pours the liquor on top and dances around them the way he saw the Roma do it when they pay their respects at a deceased's grave, speaks volumes. He knows now that his recordings could not encompass who these people were and what their music meant, plus, he had no need for any recordings anymore because he was no longer an outsider looking in. You can see it in Sabina's eyes, as she watches him, smiling, that she knew he now saw her and her people not just with his eyes, but his heart too, and his little dance was an homage to them.