A People Without a Land (2007)

Directed by: Bob Entrop | 90 minutes | documentary

In ‘A people without a country’, filmmaker Bob Entrop penetrates the world of the Sinti and Roma. These gypsies live with a number of families in the Netherlands, they no longer move around. They try to find a balance between participating in society and preserving their own culture. This is sometimes a tough one, especially for the younger generation. Paulus is one of the sons of the family and a protagonist in this film. His wife Rebecca is pregnant but you don’t talk about that. If you are pregnant as a Sinti, that is unmentionable and whether you are buried or cremated is an even bigger taboo. But, Paul reassures, everything that lies between birth and death is negotiable. Paul’s older sister takes care of ‘old mom’ of 91. Her life is limited to serving others. It’s not talked about, it’s not her will or against her will. That’s just the way it is.

Hannes, an old Sinti/Roma, sometimes travels with his family to France, Spain and Italy. He lashes out at Entrop when he gets too close with his questions. Gypsies are very religious, even Catholic, despite the wrong role played by the Catholic Church in the Second World War. But Hannes declares, “Should we deny our faith by what others have done in the name of our faith?”

Gypsies are conservative people, very slowly their world is now also changing. Slowly but surely they are realizing that education is necessary and that a bridge has to be built between them and the citizens. Heidi, the youngest Sinti to speak, sets a good example. Okay, she’s 22 years old and still lives at home. After all, it is customary for gypsies to live with your family. But Heidi negotiates and now lives separately in her mother’s garden shed. She works and goes to school one day a week, she wants more in the future than what she is doing now. Heidi would never talk about this when she was pregnant with her father around. But you can do that without family around. She also likes to talk to Entrop about armpit hair and sex, but only when the camera is off. But above all, Heidi is proud of being Sinti and makes her feel special. Not different, but more special.

Entrop portrays the Sinti/Roma families in a special way. He has captured important cultural heritage with this film and the best part is that those involved are aware of it.