The Crazy Stranger (1997)

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 adaptation)

Stars:

Romain Duris, Rona Hartner, Izidor Serban

9 wins & 5 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.

---

Plot Keywords:

bucharest romania | child | male frontal nudity | male full frontal nudity | male pubic hair | 

---

Taglines:

In Every Soul There is a Gypsy

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Music | Romance

---

Certificate:

Unrated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Third movie of Tony Gatlif's trilogy on the Romani people. It was preceded by The Princes (1983) and Safe Journey (1993).

---

Connections

Follows Safe Journey (1993)

User Reviews

When will it be on DVD

I was truly captivated by this seductive journey into the well-insulated lives of the gypsies. It takes a non-judgmental view and refrains from clichés. The film takes on a somewhat cinema variete approach and uses many non-professional actors for the supporting roles. This approach was successful and didn't distract from film's story. The film follows a young Frenchman on a quest to find a gypsy singer on an audio tape he has. I was able to catch it late one night on cable and have not been able to find it in any video store for rent. This movie really needs a DVD release so we can get it from Netflix. Someone should pick this one up for release.

Details

Country:

Romania France

Language:

French Romanian Romany

Release Date:

7 August 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

O Estrangeiro Louco

Filming Locations:

Transylvania, Romania

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$12,136, 9 August 1998

Gross USA:

$673,153

Company Credits

Production Co:

Princes Films, Canal+, Centre National du Cinéma et de l'Image Animée

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min 113 min (Director's Cut)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Dolby SR

Color:

Color