Romanes

A short documentary based on four-and-a-half hours of material shot during a video workshop with young Roma and Sinti people in 2009. The location is a gypsy camp in Centocello, a suburb of Rome. One thing that stands out is that the young gypsies all only really want one thing: a normal life, in a house, just like all Italians of their age. Some express a desire for a job: "Any kind of job," it doesn't matter what, as long as they can become part of Italian society, with all the scooters and designer clothes that come along with it. In 16 minutes, we are introduced to everyday life in the camp, to the dreams of the young people and the way in which they see themselves. They do not think it strange that they are not granted Italian nationality, even though they were born in Italy. With this project, Austrian documentary filmmaker Annja Krautgasser wanted to offer the young gypsies access to an audience that would otherwise not hear their stories or be aware of their difficult situation. Nonetheless, the film is not political or heavy: the young people film and interview one another, which leads to playful moments and humorous situations.