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‘Gypsy Caravan'
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The rhythm of joy and life
3 stars
By Norman Mark
There should be more to movies than making sure that no pane of glass is unbroken and no vegetable cart unturned at the end of a chase. Often the higher function of films is to take us to places we might never see and to introduce people we might never meet.
“Gypsy Caravan,” a musical odyssey documentary, changes the perception of a much-maligned people while being terrifically entertaining. It is a joyous experience almost from beginning to end.
The film follows five musical groups from four countries on a 2001 tour of America. All are gypsies (who should be called Romani, a tribe that exited India a millennia ago); vastly different in costume, rhythms and attitudes; and yet united by a shared, proud heritage and an un-derstanding of the prejudices against them.
The film, which brings new meaning to the word “polyglot,” is in English, Romani, Spanish, Romanian, Macedon-ian, Hindi and Marwari, with English subtitles. It presents acts from Romania, Macedonia, Spain and India.
We meet the weight-challenged Esma Redzepova, the “Queen of the Gypsies,” who adopted 47 children. She sings with a cry in her voice that can elicit instant tears. She becomes the heart of the documentary because, when she speaks, her joy of life overflows.
Taraf de Haïdouks, a Romanian band of violin virtuosos (Johnny Depp is a fan), features Nicolae Neacsu, a frail, elderly, chain-smoker who loses decades when he begins to play. Profits from his music sends children from his village to college.
Antonio El Pipa, founder of a Spanish flamenco troup, is handsome enough to give Antonio Banderas competition. The Indian ensemble employs a cross-dressing dancer.
The filmmaker, Jasmine Dellal, visits the groups' home towns, which resemble the sorry village that gave us “Borat.”
Even though at times there is almost too much music, too many grinning people sawing away at their sitars or violins, by the end of the film I wanted more tunes and more insights into the performers. “Gypsy Caravan” should do for Romani music what “The Buena Vista Social Club” did for Cuban performers.
Norman Mark's radio show, On the Mark, is heard at 11 a.m. Saturdays on KNWZ-AM, 970 & 1140. His hilarious detective spoof, “The Lure of the Long-Legged Blond,” is available at www.longleggedblond.com
3 stars
By Norman Mark
There should be more to movies than making sure that no pane of glass is unbroken and no vegetable cart unturned at the end of a chase. Often the higher function of films is to take us to places we might never see and to introduce people we might never meet.
“Gypsy Caravan,” a musical odyssey documentary, changes the perception of a much-maligned people while being terrifically entertaining. It is a joyous experience almost from beginning to end.
The film follows five musical groups from four countries on a 2001 tour of America. All are gypsies (who should be called Romani, a tribe that exited India a millennia ago); vastly different in costume, rhythms and attitudes; and yet united by a shared, proud heritage and an un-derstanding of the prejudices against them.
The film, which brings new meaning to the word “polyglot,” is in English, Romani, Spanish, Romanian, Macedon-ian, Hindi and Marwari, with English subtitles. It presents acts from Romania, Macedonia, Spain and India.
We meet the weight-challenged Esma Redzepova, the “Queen of the Gypsies,” who adopted 47 children. She sings with a cry in her voice that can elicit instant tears. She becomes the heart of the documentary because, when she speaks, her joy of life overflows.
Taraf de Haïdouks, a Romanian band of violin virtuosos (Johnny Depp is a fan), features Nicolae Neacsu, a frail, elderly, chain-smoker who loses decades when he begins to play. Profits from his music sends children from his village to college.
Antonio El Pipa, founder of a Spanish flamenco troup, is handsome enough to give Antonio Banderas competition. The Indian ensemble employs a cross-dressing dancer.
The filmmaker, Jasmine Dellal, visits the groups' home towns, which resemble the sorry village that gave us “Borat.”
Even though at times there is almost too much music, too many grinning people sawing away at their sitars or violins, by the end of the film I wanted more tunes and more insights into the performers. “Gypsy Caravan” should do for Romani music what “The Buena Vista Social Club” did for Cuban performers.
Norman Mark's radio show, On the Mark, is heard at 11 a.m. Saturdays on KNWZ-AM, 970 & 1140. His hilarious detective spoof, “The Lure of the Long-Legged Blond,” is available at www.longleggedblond.com
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