Gypsies Are Found Near Heaven is centered around the budding romance between the beautiful and free-spirited Rada and the quick-tempered horse-thief Zobar against the backdrop of early 20th century Austria-Hungary. However, the love-story is just the pretext for a lively portrait of the life and culture of the gypsies of East Europe. The entire film is loving homage to them and to one of their supreme values: free living, unhindered by external authority, constraints or materialistic temptations, as exemplified by the old gypsy who leaves the ancestral camp disgusted at his brethren willingness to exchange horses for gold. Such vision is, of course, an idealized one, but Loteanu's film never over-plays its hand, devolves into melodrama or states any kind of message, instead leaving it to the viewer to read whatever they want into the lavish and well-executed musical numbers, deliberately theatrical scene and shot composition, and quaint lines. There is an endearing simplicity to the textual richness of Gypsies Are Found Near Heaven.
The result is a delightful and scenic musical drama boasting a mix of traditional and orchestrated yet always so catchy songs, and vibrant color that comes from more than just the warm, pastel cinematography reminiscent of Russian paintings of gypsy camps. In keeping with the homage tone, Loteanu's camera pans gently over golden light-bathed landscapes, clear close-ups of his multi-national cast, through soaring dramatic moments set to a music that is a character in itself, and whimsical dance numbers. Whether or not swept into the cultural relevance of the film, Gypsies Are Found Near Heaven provides ample entertainment with its striking imagery, dynamic characters, humor and well-balanced mix of story and naturally-flowing musical numbers.
Beneath all that, there is a sense of melancholy and foreboding that is so well handled,that it doesn't intrude upon the exuberant surface of the film. At the same time, Gypsies Are Found Near Heaven employs a light touch, not exoticing its subject matter, while also maintaining awareness that the viewer might and as such, taking great care not the judge its characters. This approach indicates not only great sensibility, but also great maturity. The interactions of the gypsies and Austria-Hungarian authorities demonize or favor neither, merely illustrating the contact of two radically different ways of life represented by people who might superficially share a world, but in reality are worlds apart. The intelligence of Loteanu's take is demonstrated in his option of not making that a source of tragedy, but instead of showing that tragedy can come from anywhere and sometimes seemingly from nowhere.
My assessment: very good.
Gypsies Are Found Near Heaven can be viewed on youtube with English subtitles courtesy of Mosfilm or on the studio's website, as Mosfilm has made many of its films, some masterpieces of world cinema, available either for legal viewing or downloading, English subtitles included. Please support their website by visiting them!
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Gypsies Are Found Near Heaven
Directed and written by: Emil Loteanu
Cinematography by: Sergei Vronsky
Music by: Isidor Burdin and Evgenyi Doga
Produced and distributed by Mosfillm