Latcho drom (Safe Trip)

Over a millennium ago, the Roma people were forced to leave their home in the Rajasthan region of India and head west in search of a safer region to call home. During their journey, they were met with a constant flow of hostility.

Groundbreaking approach
Roma-Algerian director Tony Gatlif has dedicated numerous films to the Roma people, more commonly known as Gypsies in the Netherlands. Latcho drom (Romani for 'Safe Trip') is popularly considered as one of Gatlif's groundbreaking works. Gatlif substitutes traditional dialogue and cast for swathes of music and dance to give a tender depiction of the various Roma communities, often set against the background of breathtaking landscapes.

Epic journey
The journey begins in north-eastern India and runs through Egypt, Turkey, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and France before ultimately drawing to an end in Spain. An intense love of and passion for music is a binding factor despite various differences that exist between the communities.

Long time coming
The production company filed for bankruptcy a year after the film was completed, which meant that Latcho drom never made it to the big screen. The various issues surrounding the bankruptcy have finally been resolved which means that the film will be released in the Netherlands after all, 16 years after it was completed.