When the Road Bends: Tales of a Gypsy Caravan (2007)
87%RT Audience Score: 82%
Awards & Nominations: 2 wins
A dynamic doc following five Romani bands is a pleasure for the senses thanks to vibrant colors and eclectic music
Gypsy Caravan is a must-see for anyone who loves music and culture. The film takes you on a journey with Roma musicians from all over the world, showcasing their unique styles and personalities. From the Indian group with their bejeweled drag dancer to the oompah-based Romanians, you’ll be tapping your feet and nodding your head to the beat. The poverty contrasts sharply with the excitement of the tour bus, but the music itself is full of joy and sorrow. It’s a reminder that even in the toughest of times, music can bring people together and lift their spirits. So, grab some popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the ride!
Production Company(ies)
Piki Films, Defender Films, Curious Film
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Unrated
Year of Release
2007
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:NA
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Runtime:NA
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Language(s):
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Aug 26, 2008
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
Worldwide gross: NA
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Jasmine Dellal – Producer
San Fu Maltha – Executive Producer
Wouter Barendrecht – Executive Producer
Michael J. Werner – Executive Producer
Albert Maysles – Cinematographer
Director(s)
Jasmine Dellal
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Jasmine Dellal
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
2 wins
Academy Awards
All Critics (50) | Top Critics (26) | Fresh (43) | Rotten (7)
For its glimpses of various lifestyles and personalities — an ancient but spry fiddler, a young male who performs in drag — it isn’t bad.
January 4, 2008
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Gypsy Caravan – When the Road Bends evokes the US tour of Roma musicians whose astonishing diversity ranges from the Indian group with their bejewelled drag dancer to oompah-based Romanians.
September 29, 2007
Martin Hoyle
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
So long seen as ragged leftovers from an older historical epoch, the Roma turn out to be a modern people who have a lot to teach over-developed societies about what it means to be human.
September 28, 2007
Sukhdev Sandhu
Daily Telegraph (UK)
TOP CRITIC
These extraordinary musicians ought to put an end to any sniffiness about Gypsy music.
September 28, 2007 | Rating: 3/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
The poverty contrasts sharply with the excitement of the tour bus and cuts to the heart of the songs themselves, famed for their “joy and sorrow”.
September 28, 2007 | Rating: 4/5
Jamie Russell
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
If you have any ear for non-Western music, Gypsy Caravan is a must.
September 6, 2007 | Rating: 4/5
Richard Nilsen
Arizona Republic
TOP CRITIC
The different musicians come from far-flung locales including Macedonia, Romania, India and Spain, but all of them carry in their hearts the spirit of the travelling, itinerant musician.
August 23, 2017
Dorothy Woodend
The Tyee (British Columbia)
Dellal’s documentary often seems like a cleaned-up, homogenized version of the chaotic Roma world presented by Gatlif, Kusturica, et al. But even toned down and packaged, the music itself has the power to thrill.
April 28, 2011
Kelly Vance
East Bay Express
August 7, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
Jonathan Kiefer
Sacramento News & Review
December 7, 2007 | Rating: 4/5
Jennie Kermode
Eye for Film
The energy is electric, the camerawork crisp and colourful, the editing note-perfect. . . . for the Roma, music sounds the notes of a harsh, maligned cultural history, making them all the more unforgettable while demanding remembrance, even awe.
December 6, 2007
Brian Gibson
Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Alberta)
Blessed with a wealth of characters, moving stories and roof-raising performances, Gypsy Caravan is as rich as the music it promotes. Fans of Buena Vista should definitely join the club.
September 28, 2007 | Rating: 4/5
Billy Mowbray
Film4…
Plot
This documentary follows five different Romani bands as they tour across America, showcasing their diverse music and cultures while fusing their styles into new hybrids.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels doesn’t provide any tidbits about the cast of Gypsy Caravan.
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