GIPSY MAGIC ( )
Movie from: 1997
Duration: 135 minutes
Director: Stole Popov
Screenplay: Vladimir Blazhevski
Leading Roles: Severdzan Bajram, Dancho Chevrevski, Goran Dodevski, Dzemail Hasan, Katina Ivanova, Vladimir Jachev, Predrag Manojlovic - Miki,
Toni Mihajlovski, Arna Shijakovic, Sinolichka Trpkova
Content: The action of the movie takes place in a Gypsy settlement, and the main protagonists are the members of one large Romany
family. Taip and Remzija have six children. Their source of income is the sale of the old things that they pick up from the city dump. But there
also are others that have designs on the city dump so Taip gets into a conflict with Omer, the leader of a gang whose members do not hesitate to
use the dagger as an argument in the quarrels.
The poverty his family lives in does not prevent Taip from dreaming, dreaming of India, the ancient fatherland of Gypsies. The incidental
acquaintance with Dr. Ridzu, ethnic Hindu, a member of the American contingent of UNPREDEP (United Nations Preventive Deployment) in Macedonia,
gives him an idea about how to make the money he needs to buy a horse which will take his family to India. Among other things, he needs the
money to buy a yellow metal bed, the years old dream of Ramzija. That is how the stream of "unfortunate events" begins in the family of Taip.
Dr. Ridzu signs the death certificates for the grandmother, the mother, and the sons. For the deaths Taip gets money from the social welfare
funds. This way, "the dead" are condemned to life in the enclosed room of the improvised home of Taip.
In such circumstances, one of Taips sons unveils his true nature and begins a love affair with the Indian. At the funeral of the third son,
Bajram who agrees to die only if a real burial is organized, Taip is late with the exhumation and bad fortune takes over his family. The dreamer,
Taip, faces the misfortunes that happen to his close relatives.
The money he took is not enough to make his dreams come true. In the end, in the feud with Omer, who was killed by Taips son, Fazli, Taip
himself is murdered. His body, leaning against the steps of the freight train departs for somewhere away from the Romany settlement.
Resume: The movie "Gypsy Magic" is a result of the cooperation of the traditional production company "Vardar Film" and the newly
established producer "Triangl", directed by the renown Stole Popov according to the scenario of Vladimir Blazhevski. The primary impression is
that this movie makes an effort to picture the real position of the Romanies, with whom material poverty is opposed to psychological freedom,
which is supposed to be the real wealth. Based on this model, the director attempts to raise the content of the movie to a universal level. The
nomad mentality, the appearance of the age-old human need to search, and the nostalgic thirst for life, are supposed to be the essential poetic
message of this film.
But, one of the basic hazards when one makes a movie about the Romanies is that so far they have been portrayed in a suspicious folklore of an
ethnic group still separate from any society based on different ethnologic, religious, cultural and even political grounds. It seems that Popov
skillfully avoids this trap. So even though his movie is a piece of shining beauty, the viewer does not have the impression that something is
forced at any moment. In this movie the color has a dominant psychological character, since color too, has its value in their everyday life,
which is marvelously and above all functionally noticed and recorded by the cameraman of this movie - Apostol Trpevski.
The central character is a trader and collector of second hand bric-a-brac, Taip, played by Miki Manojlovic. Opposite to him is his wife Remzija
played by Katina Ivanova. They both realize their role trough splendid and impressive actors methodology. Since it is clear from the beginning
that Taips desire to take his family to India is an imaginary ardor, and as such it is an unrealistic dream. Through the story it becomes
obvious that this will not happen. Their reality, and that is what the viewer sees through the sequences of the movie, consists of alcohol,
yelling and violence, and permanent conflict. But even in those centuries old fatalist frames they find sources of optimism, which,
unfortunately, are based on resignation.
It is there that, with its visual warmth and dramatic strength, the movie touches us with its sensitivity and indisputable reality. As a
contribution to this feeling we add the unusually functional music background of Vlatko Stefanovski. We must also stress the successful
cooperation in the visual build up of the movie with the editor Dimitar Grbevski and of course the crew of actors composed of professionals and
"naturals." In addition to the already mentioned belong Toni Mihajlovski, Anton Zeki, Dancho Chevreski etc.
On the formal plan this refers to the scenographic solutions of Milenko Jeremic, as well as the costumes of Nebojsha Lipanovic. This movie
definitely places the director, Stole Popov among the best representatives of young Macedonian cinematography.
Awards:
1997 IFF Mediteranean, Montpelie, Grand Prix Antigone DOro for Best Film
1998 IFF, Izmir, Special Jury Award
Sources: Macedonian Cinema Information Center and Cinemateque of Macedonia.
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