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| Movie Review: Gypsy Caravan Alternate Title: Gypsy in My Soul
Story: The US 2002 Gypsy Caravan
tour (sponsored by the World Music Institute) brought
together five Romani (gypsy) musical groups and the people who saw this
tour are better off for it. If you see this uplifting, toe tapping,
eye opening film you will too. Directed by Jasmine Dellal and
filmed by the one and only Albert Maysles and Alain
de Halleux we get a first hand look at a culture that is maligned,
misunderstood and stigmatized. See this film and you will have a new
outlook about this proud culture of ten million strong. The film is shot in a linear form and we get
to meet and hear Romani music from India, Romania, Spain and Macedonia.
They perform live on stage, share up close and personal interviews with
some of the major performers and visit their home villages and watch
as these musicians get to know one another and grow from the experience
as we do. See it and enjoy a heck of a film. For more on
this culture go to:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roma_people
Acting: It is a concert film and no acting is applicable
but it does star Fanfare Ciocarlia , Taraf de Haidouks, Johnny
Depp (the one talking head), Antonio El Pipa, Juana
la del Pipa (think a female Tom Waits), Maharaja,
and the amazing Esma Redzepova (who has been nominated
for a Nobel Peace Prize several times)
Predilection: I am fascinated by Romani culture.
Critters: Camel, pigs, geese, chickens, cows, goats,
birds and dogs.
Soundtrack: Amazing.
Opening Titles: A shot of a small village in Rahjistan
- a beautiful start.
Visual Art: The costumes were outstanding.
Theater Audience: A joyous and smiling handful of
folk.
Weather: It seems to be sunny for the Romani's.
Sappy Factor: 0
Quirky Meter: 2
Squirm Scale: It is squirmy to watch the traditional
practice of Romanian gypsy's marrying girls who are 13.
Drift Factor: Not a drifting moment for me.
Oscar Worthy: Why not?
Big Screen or Rental: Go for the big screen if you
can find it. You can go to my 2000 movie archives and read American
Gypsy, another film by Jasmine Dellal.
Length: Under two hours.
LOBO HOWLS: 8
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