When the Road Bends: Tales of a Gypsy Caravan (2006)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Jasmine Dellal

Release Date:

15 June 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary | Music

Plot:

A brief look into Romani culture and Rom (Gypsies) from around the globe as five famous Romani groups tour the USA. The film visits their families at home in Spain, India, Macedonia and Romania.

Plot Keywords:

Bus Tour | Flamenco Dancer | Gypsy | Musician | Singer

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Fanfare Ciocarlia
Taraf de Haidouks
Johnny Depp	...	Himself
Antonio El Pipa
Maharaja
Esma Redzepova

Directed by
Jasmine Dellal

Produced by
Wouter Barendrecht	....	executive producer
Joanna Chejade-Bloom	....	associate producer
Jasmine Dellal	....	producer
San Fu Maltha	....	executive producer
Michael Werner	....	executive producer

Cinematography by
Alain de Halleux
Albert Maysles

Art Direction by
Josh Fifarek

Sound Department
Carlos M. Cano	....	assistant sound editor
Martin Czembor	....	sound re-recording mixer
Marius Emil Stanescu	....	sound recordist
Mariusz Glabinski	....	sound effects editor
Marlena Grzaslewicz	....	supervising sound editor

Camera and Electrical Department
Roko Belic	....	additional camerawork
Adam Jeppeson	....	additional camerawork
Dean Mermell	....	additional camerawork
PJ Raval	....	additional camerawork
Margarita Semadeni	....	additional camerawork
Dan Uneken	....	still photographer: Spain

Editorial Department
Kiki Allgeier	....	post-production associate
Don Bernier	....	assistant editor
Carlos Chacon	....	post-production associate
Craig Gordon	....	digital intermediate editor
Margarita Jimeno	....	assistant editor
Paulo Padilha	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Mariusz Glabinski	....	music editor

Other crew
Bryan Bruchman	....	production assistant
Houston King	....	producer's representative

Thanks
Josh Fifarek	....	very special thanks

Distributors

• A-Film Distribution (2007) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• AMG Entertainment (2007) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Pretty Pictures (2007) (France) (theatrical)
• Shadow Distribution (2007) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Shadow Distribution (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (200?) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Docurama (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (2008) (Finland) (TV)

Also Known As:

Gypsy Caravan (USA) (working title)
When the Road Bends... (International: English title) (short title)

Runtime:

USA:110 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish | Romany | Romanian | Macedonian | Hindi

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:PG | Netherlands:AL | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Clejani, Romania

Quotes:

Nicolae NeacÅŸu: When I was a kid, 3 fates came to me. One destined this, one destined that, and the youngest asked me, "When do you want an easy life? When you are old or young?" I said, when I am old. Because when I'm young I can carry life's bitterness.

Love and Charm

"Gypsy" has long been for gadjos synonymous with murder and theft. Not so after Gypsy Caravan, a documentary about musical Romani bands from four countries touring to sold out audiences, who react enthusiastically to the varied and energetic performances by a naturally charismatic people, whose fleshy elders personify the lusts of living apparent from their blistering violin playing to their indulgences in fried food and eccentric marriages.

It is not possible to ignore the Gypsies' charisma: Unforgettable is Esma Redzepova, a heavy Macedonian diva who occupies the heart of the film's message about an often maligned culture being rehabbed in front of our eyes by charming music and dance. Her 47 adopted kids are testimony to the holding power of Gypsy family; she couldn't possibly be called anything but "Queen of the Gypsies." Part of the enchanting mood is due to the lensing of the famous documentarian Albert Maysles, along with Alain de Halleux, who captures the folds and creases of older faces along with the freshness of babies and energy of teenage performers.

Legendary performer Taraf de Haidouks holds a wedding for his 13-year-old daughter that involves an entire Romanian village, as appropriate a symbol of the enduring love and charm of the Gypsy culture.