Arts, Romanian film, Aferim!

Aferim!  Film, from the Turkish meaning Bravo! --Romania. Topic: a fictional constable and his teenager son hunt for an escaped Roma slave, set in the 19th Century in Wallachia by Radu Jude 2015.  The expression is used for mutual congratulations among the hunters as the hunt progresses. Although not based on actual persons, the plot draws on historical record.

Award so far:  something called The Silver Bear, best director award, Berlin Film Festival, February 2015.  It is in the running as Romania's entry, best foreign-language film, the Oscars.  The former executive director of Romani Criss, that I understand is the "leading Roma rights organization" (most of the sites are not in English, so a search, so where is it located? recommends it for raising awareness. See New York Times, review 9/9/2015, Arts, at C1.  She is Margareta Matache.

Aferim! is not in our area film houses, and not in the library, but I found it online (free! so it says - is that a scam?) at http://www.fulltv.tv/movies/aferim-2015.html

Matache notes the 500 years of slavery in Romania, abolished in 1856, but it remains under rugs, no memorials, not mentioned apparently in history books, places like museums, and there are no memorials.  Mr. Jude expressed two goals for the film:  increase awareness, and highlight "second-class treatment of Roma today."  NYT.

Earlier films: 1923, Gypsy Girl in the Bedroom, lost except for some isolated stills.  Other directors: Cristian Mungiu, 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days,  and Beyond the Hills

Travel to Russia. Roma Resources. Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Update -- Return from Russia, see Russia Road Ways.

1. Many ethnic groups there, obviously, but difficult to get any information with the language difficulty and restrictions of a small tour -- and the bus.  Access available to Roma for us was only through taxi drivers: courteous, helpful, would set the record straight about the services available in the spotless tourist districts not given where they live.  That is also true at home.

Absolutely no way to determine ethnicity of anyone.  These photos of someone begging are just to show universality of the condition, and the humane response it sometimes gets.

 Poverty:  No way to know who we are seeing in that condition. Read Anthony Marra's Tsar of Love and Techno, for Russian poverty, span of years, also human inspiration. Review at http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/08/books/review-anthony-marras-the-tsar-of-love-and-techno-stories-of-russia.html?_r=0

We were steered away from struggling areas, but saw transients, people begging, in the Metro. Again, no way to tell who they were, many appeared to be veterans, amputees.  Tourist areas are kept clear. 

Moscow Metro, as here, hat out for change. Got it.

Police: seen in pairs. Did not see a lone patroller.

Moscow Metro, police patrolling, as here

2.  Am exploring a timeline site for Roma: go to http://www.timelinesdb.com/listevents.php?subjid=562&title=Gypsies and search for Russia or other topic-- regret the use of the name.  There is only a 2006 entry on violence in Russia, but this site has not been used much.  Find the Index at http://www.timelinesdb.com/listsubjects.php?letter=G

3.  Useful search:  try Moscow Commission on Gypsies (since that was the word used in the timeline) and find several sources.  Try St. Petersburg Russia Commission on Gypsies (add that Russia to avoid going to Florida) and see an article warning tourists against gypsy cabs.  Not so.

Moscow Metro. People in need, see archway. Some help out, some not as they pass.

Metro. Built by Stalin as the People's Palace. See the Russia Road Ways site
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Travel to Russia. I am going to Moscow and St. Petersburg shortly, and ask for recommended Roma places, artists, culture focal points. Roma resources needed.  People, history, phonetic language assistance.

Resources so far include the European Roma Rights Centre at http://www.errc.org/article/roma-in-russia/1399d, and articles, University of Victoria, Holocaust, Re-Remembering Porraimos, at http://dspace.library.uvic.ca/handle/1828/6268/;  also The Roma and Russian Literature at Russia Beyond the Headlines at http://rbth.com/arts/2015/04/08/the_roma_and_russian_literature_centuries_of_association_45045.html;

  

Roma culture share in times of fracture. O.P.Joshi.

I have received some samples of the work of O.P.Joshi from India. He says, in part, "I studied Roma since 1974 and ater retirement I painted and Published cards on Roma,culture,traditions.dance,music,history.to make aware people about them, wish to send samples to you. O.P.Joshi" He approved my posting these, and I have made them close to thumbnail size. I have more and enjoy them very much.  To contact him, leave a comment here and I am sure he will see it.

It brings to mind history, cultures, see handy overview at Migrations,

Untitled 1, by O.P. Joshi, posted by permission

Untitled 2 by O.P.Joshi, posted by permission

Untitled 3 by O.P.Joshi, posted by permission

Untitled 4 by O.P.Joshi, posted by permission

Untitled 5 by O.P.Joshi, posted by permission

Untitled 6 by O.P.Joshi, posted by permission