GYPSY WOMAN
UK, 2001, 84 minutes, Colour.
Jack Davenport, Neve McIntosh?, Corin Redgrave, Julian Wadham, Nick Brimble.
Directed by Sheree Folkson
Gypsy Woman is a little known and little seen film produced by the Isle of Man.
Jack Davenport is the star, Leon, a businessman who tangles with a gypsy woman, Natalie, tries to pay her off, gets caught up in her activities including the breeding of her mare, is shot at, chased, hit with Natalie’s daughter’s slingshot, gets lost in the countryside, but finally warms to Natalie, going to a luxury hotel while impersonating a famous rock star, has an encounter with Natalie who leaves, putting a note on Leon’s car, but its falling off and he thinking that she had abandoned him.
By chance, the solution comes through Leon’s daughter who has become a phone friend of Natalie’s daughter – leading him to the auction for the foal that he had helped to produce and who had been named Leon!
A light romantic comedy, running to formula and therefore predictable but pleasantly so.
1. A light romantic comedy? Formula and predictable – but with humour and charm?
2. The London settings, offices, courts, homes? Contrast with the countryside, the beauty of the scenery, the celebrations for the Gypsies, the lavish funeral and customs, the stable and horses, the open fields? Contrast with the lavish hotel? The auction for the horses? The musical score?
3. The story from Leon’s point of view? Driving, haughty, the breaking of his windscreen wiper, the encounter with Natalie at the door, the court, his company, negligence, Natalie arriving, the wife of the deceased? His reaction? At the office, discussions with the authorities, the offer of £50,000, and his pocketing some of the proceeds? His decision to find Natalie?
4. Leon, the death of his wife in a car accident, with his daughter, late for her play, the bedtime story, the phone calls while he was away?
5. In the countryside, the Gypsy boy, the drive through the mud, the funeral, his watching, the mobile phone ringing, the reaction, Mani hitting him, taking the car, his being stranded?
6. His finding Natalie, her daughter and the slingshot? With the stallion, with the mare, his involvement with the breeding? His being shot by the owner? Escaping on horseback?
7. His prejudices about the Gypsies, the discussions with Natalie, the story of her husband, her own background and education, the daughter? Her sending him off? His being lost, returning? The encounter with the police, the owner of the stallion, punching the police, escape on the horse?
8. The breaking down of his prejudices? Sympathy for Natalie? Their being chased? Going to the hotel, the luxury, the impersonation of the rockstar and the response of the staff, service, autographs? The romantic interlude, Natalie wanting more time, change in Leon?
9. Natalie’s disappearance, leaving the note, losing it with the broken windscreen wiper? His presuming that she was not interested, would marry, set up a business with Many?
10. His success with the money, not cashing the check, the taunts of his fellow workers about his lack of emotion?
11. His daughter, the phone call, the two little girls becoming friends, her information, going to find Natalie, the encounter with the Gypsy boy and more reckless driving? The auction, Leon hurrying, his bid, the threat from Mani, Natalie intervening, the £50,000?
12. And a happy ending? Leon saying his life, lack of income, with a gypsy wife, the horses, the two daughters was a nightmare – and he did not want to wake up?
