Customer Reviews

The Crazy Stranger [VHS]

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In an era when Hollywood has degenerated to the point of only being able to crank out such "masterpieces" as the Austin Powers series, "Dumb and Dumber" and "American Pie", or recycling old ideas in new and even shoddier versions like "Starsky & Hutch" and "Walking Tall", it's reassuring to see that filmmakers outside the good ol' U.S. of A. can still manage to make films which deal with real human emotions rather than crass cynicism.

This movie focuses on the story of a young Frenchman who inherits an old casette tape that his anthropologist father once made of a traditional Gypsy singer. Seeing her voice as a link to his dead father and a channel for his grief, he sets off on an obsessive quest to far-flung Romania in search of the songstress.

Watching this movie which was shot entirely on location in the Romanian countryside, I was struck at how lucky we are these days, as until the end of the Cold War just a few years ago, an Algerian director shooting a film with a French actor in the wilds of Romania would have been a totally unimaginable thing. And it was a treat watching a film which is entirely in Romany (aka Gypsy) language, along with some French and Romanian.

In Romania, the youth goes to a Romany (Gypsy) village. But being unable to understand even a word of each other's language, the villagers have fun making sport of him by heaping him with obscenitites. But eventually he does make friends and gradually becomes drawn into the fabric of Romany daily life. Along the way, we the viewers also come to experience and understand the carefree and spirited zest for life that permeates Romany culture.

The film also includes a love story, but director Gatlif chooses to ultimately make his film a much larger commentary on the uncertain and difficult life for the minority Romany, given the ethnic tensions and discrimination they experience with the majority Romanians.

So if you're sick of Hollywood's version of "Reality" and would like a glimpse at a fresh and different perspective on the world, I HIGHLY recommend this movie.

-- But hurry! McDonalds has opened in Romania too, and you just know the crew for the next "Tomb Raider" flick can't be far behind!

P.S. -- This film NEEDS a DVD version NOW!!

This was the first Gatlif film I watched in full. I was blown away.

Gadjo Dilo ("Crazy Stranger") refers to Romain Duris' character a Frenchman who goes to Romania to find a Gypsy singer he has a recording of. Does he find her? Well, I won't tell you, but what he does finds is the heart and the soul of the Gypsy world, the music. Meanwhile, we discover a world mostly unknown in our structured "West" - human, funny, raw, passionate.

I must have taken friends to see it on 3 separate occasions when it was in the theatre when it came out a few years ago. I have the soundtrack, and now I'm buying a copy of the video for my husband who's never seen it (but who loves the CD).

Like the previous reviewers, I had trouble finding this film on video, finally locating it through Foreignfilms.com's message board. The film gives us a peek into gypsy life- raw, gritty and uncompromising. It is also an achingly beautiful romance- in the true sense of the word. Coupled with the fine music score, it has a viseral quality that in the end leaves you a little giddy and grateful to people like Tony Gatlif for making movies like this.

This film was directed by the same person who did Latcho Drom, another unique and beautiful example of documentary style film-making. I was so touched by this film I knew I had to own it immediately. The soundtrack is also amazing. I highly recommend this film to all people who have a facination with gypsies.

I found this movie late one night on IFC & it caught me right away. Now I have to buy it. I was entranced through the entire film. The music is as good as Latchko Drom, but I love the story even more. It's a "no-holds-barred" tale of passion from both ends of the spectrum. Refreshing and life-affirming.

Love this movie! Full of whimsy, longing, and shots of ruggedly handsome but restless people and villages. The heroins find resolution, but not in the way they expect, and by way of of poetic and (very) cathartic heartache, and, yes, love. Add in perfectly-timed puffs at hand-rolled cigarettes and naked winter romps through the forest and you've got a winning combination (this is NOT an endorsement of tobacco, but it does film well)! A great snapshot Transylvania, for those curious about that region. One of the DVDs in my tiny collection. I bought it for all of my friends.

This is yet another delightful Tony Gatlif film on the life of the Rom people in Eastern Europe. This story (unlike Latcho Drom --- VHS) is ostensibly at least, fiction. A young Frenchman named Stéphane (Romain Duris) travels by foot (in winter) to Romania to find an obscure Rom singer whose recordings his father had sent him. His father disappeared from his life, and Stéphane therefore believes he cannot go on until he finds her.

In the process, Stéphane meets and effectively joins a Roma family --- and falls hopelessly in love with a gorgeous woman.

Fiction or not, overall, the film reflects the genuine condition of the impoverished Rom people of Romania --- including their lifestyle, music and joi de vivre. It's a look at Romania's totally delightful (albeit simultaneously despised) Rom subculture.

Shot in the Romanian village of Cretulesti, the cast is largely composed of Rom people, some of them renowned musicians --- such as Izidor Serban, and his family Angela, Vasile and Ioan. Other great Rom talents are also included here. It's an all together fabulous creation.

The story ends quite tragically, and also in all likelihood doesn't differ greatly from the Rom reality in rural Romania.

The film is in French, Romanian and Rom, with subtitles offered in English, French and other languages.

---Alyssa A. Lappen

What makes a good movie a great experience?: great acting, fantastic music, unforgettable scenes, sweet humour and the aroused urge to be right there with those people in the movie. This flick has it all! I have seen it 5 times now. After each viewing I left the screen smiling in my heart and feeling very happy. I don't know how many more times I will watch it, but I sure talk about it whenever the best movie subject is brought up in the conversation. May all of you enjoy it!

There are simply simple stories this movie belongs to: young french researcher is keen to find a singer of Gypsy songs his father loved very much.

And realistic show of a near-cave age existence of the Romanian Gypsies of the 20th century fall has been unfold, music, dramas, bigotry following.

Like Legong - Dance of the Virgins

this movie ("A Crazy Stranger" in English-sphere productions) is a real timeless showcase for the future generations.

Have you ever wanted to see a movie with a perfect ending? This is it. The most honest and inspiring film I have seen in a long time. The music is fantastic and the dialogue is hilarious. These are real people living real lives on their own terms with no apologies.