The Crazy Stranger (1997)
"Gadjo dilo" (original title)

A man is looking for a singer he had heard on cassette. He finds much more.

Director:

Tony Gatlif

Writers:

Tony Gatlif (original screenplay and adaptation), Kits Hilaire (screenplay),

Stars:

Romain Duris, Rona Hartner, Izidor Serban

10 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Romain Duris	...	Stéphane
Rona Hartner	...	Sabina
Izidor Serban	...	Isidor
Ovidiu Balan	...	Sami
Angela Serban	...	Angela
Aurica Ursan	...	Aurica
Vasile Serban	...	Vasile
Ioan Serban	...	Ioan
Gheorge Gherebenec	...	Gheorge
Dan Astileanu	...	Dumitru
Valentin Teodosiu	...	Le Secrétaire de Mairie / Denech
Petre Nicolae	...	L'Épicier
Calman Kantor	...	Radu
Florin Moldovan	...	Adriani
Adrian Simionescu	...	L'Enfant Prodige

Storyline

Stéphane, a young French man from Paris, travels to Romania. He is looking for the singer Nora Luca, whom his father had heard all the time before his death. Wandering along a frozen road, he meets old Izidor, a member of the Roma (Gypsy) and tells him of Nora Luca. Izidor seems to understand and takes him to his village. Stéphane believes that Izidor will take him to Nora Luca when the time has come. So, he lives in the Roma(Gypsy) village for several months. The other inhabitants dislike him at first (as he comes from those who call them thieves and attack their folks) but when they as they get to know him better, they grow to like him. In summer, the ice between him and beautiful Sabina finally cracks, and a secret is revealed.

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Plot Keywords:

singer | village | death | gypsy | romania | 

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Taglines:

In Every Soul There is a Gypsy

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Music | Romance

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Details

Country:

Romania France

Language:

French Romanian Romany

Release Date:

7 August 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

El extranjero loco

Filming Locations:

Fagaras county, Transylvania, Romania

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$12,136 (USA) (7 August 1998)

Gross:

$673,153 (USA) (1 January 1999)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Canal+, Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC), Ministère de la Culture de la Republique Française

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min 113 min (Director's Cut)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Third movie of Tony Gatlif's trilogy on the Rromani people. It was preceded by Les princes and Latcho Drom.

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Connections

Follows Les princes (1983)

User Reviews

Nothing compares to it

Gadjo Dilo stroked me in a most unconventional way. I saw it at a friend without knowing or expecting what it will be about. Very realistic and sincere, with raw images and beautiful shots, it simply shook me up. The way gypsies are presented is a true insight of their culture and way of living. The acting, done by amateurs at most, is flawless, especially by Izidor who delivers perfectly. Even if the story is hardly present, the movie doesn't need one as it slowly goesdeep with drama, comedy, ethnicity and music. Overall Gadjo Dilo (free translation Crazy Dude) is an unexpected gem from Tony Gatlif that is different from everything I've seen. Misto!