. And the Violins stopped playing

this is a 1988 movie (Polish: I skrzypce przestaly grac) depicting a real story about a group of Romani people who are forced to flee from the persecuting forces of the Nazis at the height of the Porajmos (Romani holocaust), during World War II. The story begins with Dymitr Mirga, a prominent gypsy and violin player entertaining a group of Nazis in a restaurant with his family. At first, the Nazis enjoy the entertainment provided by the gypsies and reassure them that the removal of the Jews in the region (set in Poland) is for the sake of the Gypsies - the Nazis try to tap into anti-semmitism to convince the Romani. However, Dymitr Mirga soon realizes the truth behind the matter and asks the leader of the Gypsies (a community in which he has a part) to evacuate the community that they have into Hungary, which has no Nazis in 1941.

The leader is reluctant to obey until compelling evidence is given by Dymitr Mirga. Eventually the council forces the current leader to "resign" his position and give the power to Dymitr Mirga, since he was the one who perceived the Nazi threat. Adding insult to injury, the former leader's son was betrothed to a beautiful romani girl, named Zoya Natkin. However, she choses to marry Dymitr Mirga's son instead, Roman Mirga. Throughout their journey to Hungary, some of the gypsies desert and are massacred by the Nazis; later they encounter Polish resistance fighters. Others voluntarily split up to meet up later, the idea being that in smaller numbers they will look like merchants rather than gypsies.

Later, Dymitr Mirga is able to lead his small company to buy horses from another, non-related Romani gypsy community, selling their precious jewels for horses - a great sacrifice, but necessary for moving quickly. Even so, many more gypies are killed by the Nazis, though the sympathetic population give them a burial and a chance for their comrades to meet up and mourn their loss.

Eventually, the Romani, still led by the resolute Dymitr Mirga but now in much smaller numbers, reach Hungary. Dymitr is lucky to have his son (Roman) and his wife, Roman's wife and her family too (Zoya's family), as well as a few others, including Roman's "rival", the son of the former leader (killed by Nazis).

Unfortunately, in 1944 the Nazis invade Hungary; Dymitr Mirga's effort is wasted when a Nazi column push aside the carriages of the Romani and take them into concentration camps were the infamous Col. Kruger conducts horrifying experiments on the various prisoners. Dymitr Mirga is lucky enough to have his daughter escape out the window of one of the cattle trucks used to bring in the Romani. Later at the camp he is naturally made to entertain the Nazis with his musical skills, whilst his son, due to his ability to translate into other languages is given small privileges.

However, when his wife, Zoya, dies in the camp, Roman begins to heed his father's call for him alone to escape. Roman then approaches his rival, and now friend (the son of the former, deceased leader) and the two agree to escape; with Zoya dead and their families soon to be next they have little to lose. The two succeed in escaping, and manage to re-group with Roman's younger sister, who had escaped from the cattle trunk long ago.

The film ends showing the war over, with three carriages of the Romani people, presumably one for Roman, one for his friend (former rival) and another for his younger sister no doubt married by now. As the film draws to a close, the narrator concludes that the "Gypsy nation has yet to receive any compensation", as the three carriages head off into a sunset.

Thanks to Wikipedia and YouTube.

H.V. Anderz.

Last updated on 20 november 2010.

Zie ook: Beeldverhaal Anderz, Boeken Anderz, Geschiedenis Anderz, Astronomie Anderz, Personen Anderz, Muziek Anderz en Sport Anderz, Voetbal Anderz.