GADJO DILO
France, 1997, 102 minutes, Colour.
Romain Duris, Rona Hartner, Izidor Serban.
Directed by Tony Gatlif.
Gadjo Dilo is the work of Algerian-born, French-raised Tony Gatlif, of gypsy extraction. He has shown over the decades a particular interest in exiles, gypsies, music. They combine in this film. It is the third in a trilogy of films about gypsies, The Princes, Latcho Drom. Later he was to make Exils, with the star Romain Duris.
This film has a French lead, in an unfriendly Romania, in gypsy country. Eventually accepted into the community, who see him as an outsider, a gadjo, one who is crazy, dilo. He is adopted by an elder in the community and learns about the music which he wants to tape.
The film is vivid in its presentation of the gypsies and their lifestyle. There is also, towards the end of the film, a grimmer picture of gypsy life as the Romanians attack the village, a kind of ethnic cleansing which was being carried out in the Balkan states that the film was made in the mid-90s.
Tony Gatlif has become a film chronicler of the gypsy way of life more than any other directors, combining a documentary style about their life, music, with a narrative.
1.The impact of the film? Gypsies? Romania? Gypsy life, gypsy communities?
2.The work of the director, his background, his perspective on the gypsies? His skill in bringing the characters vividly to life? The Romanian settings, the outskirts of Bucharest, the village itself? The wintry countryside at the opening? The city of Bucharest? The action sequences and the attack on the village?
3.The importance of music, the traditions, the gypsy songs? Stephane and his research? Wanting to find the originator of the music? His listening to the songs, their performance? Song and dance?
4.The quest, Stephane, from Paris, looking for the gypsy singer, his father’s favourite songs and the records? His arrival in the snow, the village? His meeting Izidor? Izidor as elder, fiddler, his son in prison? The shelter? The other gypsies thinking he was a crazy outsider, a gadjo dilo?
5.Izidor liking Stephane, treating him like his son? His insisting that he stay? Izidor and his character, influence, getting the other gypsies to accept Stephane?
6.Sabina, her having been married to a Belgian? The search? Sabina and her attitude towards Stephane, hostile? Going to Bucharest, their time together, love?
7.Izidor’s son, returning home from prison, the fight in the bar? The attack on the village? Adriani’s death?
8.The background of the songs, the rituals, especially Izidor and grief, the mourning for his son? Stephane repeating it at the end of the film?
9.Gatlif’s poetic eye, the visual beauty of the composition of the scenes, attention to detail, the horse, the houses? The blend of the visual poetry with the music?
