Tony Gatlif: A Gypsy Voice in Film

Arriving in France in the midst of the Algerian War of Independence, with a Kabyle father and a Gypsy mother, the scene was firmly set for Tony Gatlif to grow into one of the century’s most lauded figureheads in the representation of marginalised communities.

Cinémoi is afforded the privilege of speaking to the writer/director/producer/musician, not just about the spellbinding raft of his films making up the Tony Galtif season here on Cinémoi, but also his life, passions and how they enrich and pulsate through everything he touches.

Often considered the bridge between the mainstream and the Gypsy community, Gatlif exposes and presents the heart behind his subjects through a love of jazz, dance, music, acting, and more often than not, throwing them all together with scintillating results.