Gypsy Caravan: When The Road Bends

Star Review

Films such as Tony Gatlif’s Transylvania have given Romany music its highest profile for some time. Jasmine Dellal’s documentary When the Road Bends… takes us behind this particular scene, adding context to each exotic-sounding beat as it follows musicians from around the globe on the ‘Gypsy Caravan’ tour across North America.

Interviewing her chosen artistes between sell-out gigs, Dellal is keen to stress there’s as much variation within Romany music as there is in dance or metal. It’s not all the traditional sound of accordions, fiddles and raucous horns – represented here by Romania’s Taraf de Haïdouks; crowd-pleasers Maharaja incorporate cross-dressing into their tabla-and-sitar numbers, while Spain’s Antonio el Pipa works up an irresistible flamenco.

Johnny Depp provides celebrity endorsement, but the musicians are stars in their own right, particularly the formidable Esma Redzepova, who’s raised 47 children and isn’t shy bringing up her other achievements: ‘I opened borders!’. Far from the fly-by-nights of movie legend, these are performers of staggering virtuosity with fascinating stories to tell, offstage as well as on.

Mike McCahill on 31st March 2008

View all 124 of Mike McCahill’s reviews

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Film Description

Referred to as 'The Buena Vista Social Club for Gypsy music', this film follows some of the greats of Roma music on a six week sell-out tour of the USA, on which musicians from five different countries discover their shared musical heritage. Intercut with their personal stories and home lives, the fantastic concert footage simply makes you want to get up and dance!

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