Latcho Drom (1993)

Synopsis: This magical, enticing film offers a musical and choreographic vision of the Gypsies' trek from their original home in India, through the Middle East, to Eastern and Central Europe. Filmmaker Tony Gatlif -- who himself has Gypsy blood -- captures his people's ever-changing culture. In... This magical, enticing film offers a musical and choreographic vision of the Gypsies' trek from their original home in India, through the Middle East, to Eastern and Central Europe. Filmmaker Tony Gatlif -- who himself has Gypsy blood -- captures his people's ever-changing culture. In each new country where the Gypsies settled, their songs, dances and costume absorbed elements of local traditions; thus, there are Indian drums, Oriental belly-dancing, Hungarian violins and Spanish guitars. Yet throughout the centuries, certain things remained, including the rich, rough sound of Gypsy singing and a clear passion for complex rhythms. Though "Latcho Drom" ("have a safe journey" in Romany) has no narration, song lyrics speak poignantly of the Gypsies' tragic history of oppression and violence -- including their victimization by the Nazis during World War II. [More]