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Time of the Gypsies
Dom za vešanje
1988 142 min Italy, United Kingdom, Yugoslavia R 16+
★8.3
Drama, Crime, Fantasy
Director: Emir Kusturica
Trailers
Description
Perhan is a gypsy teenager with telekinetic powers. A wealthy gypsy, Ahmed, visits the village and promises to get Perhan's sister the medical treatment she needs if they join him to Italy. Perhan soon discovers that Ahmed's business activities are in fact quite shady and he is soon lured into the elder's corrupt surroundings.
US Gross:
$280,015
Starring
Davor Dujmovic
Actor
Bora Todorovic
Actor
Ljubica Adzovic
Actor
Awards
Cannes Film Festival 1989
— Best Director
Cannes Film Festival 1989
— Palme d'Or
European Film Awards 1989
— Best Actor
César Awards 1990
— Best International Feature Film
Key opinion
Emir Kusturica's Time of the Gypsies is widely regarded as a masterful, emotionally heavy work of magic realism that explores the intersection of poverty, morality, and family. While some note its dark and sometimes chaotic narrative, the film’s powerful atmosphere and authentic cultural depiction leave a profound, lasting impact on viewers.
| Score | Goran Bregović's score serves as an essential narrative pillar, effectively communicating atmospheric depth and emotional weight even in the absence of dialogue. | |
| Culture | Kusturica delivers an authentic and vivid portrayal of Gypsy customs and folk archetypes, grounded in personal insight and empathetic observations of marginalized communities. | |
| Theme | The film functions as a compelling moral tragedy, detailing the protagonist's descent from idealism into corruption while maintaining a deep emotional investment in the characters' fates. | |
| Pacing | The narrative structure is subject to debate; while many praise the dense, immersive storytelling, some viewers find the pacing uneven or occasionally confusing due to lapses in logic and timing. |