THE FOREST IS LIKE THE MOUNTAINS
by Christiane Schmidt, Didier Guillain
synopsis
On a hill on the edge of Romanian district capital Sfântu Gheorghe there lies a Roma village, although you’d never guess that it’s so close to a town. The streets are unpaved, a horse and cart is used to get around and the fields are tilled with a scythe. The Roma live in tune with nature and harvest whatever the land currently offer. One thing they always need is wood for heating. Yet surviving in the present day has become increasingly difficult. Apart from the annual potato harvest, there is scarcely any paid work for unskilled labourers any more, not even in the wider region. Future prospects are equally bleak according to village head Aron, for without money one has no voice in politics. Strong group ties, mutual respect and unwavering faith do at least provide some compensation. Yet young Lavinia still senses what is lacking and hungrily weeps that ‘The Roma never have any money!’
international title: | The Forest is Like the Mountains |
original title: | Padurea e ca muntele, vezi? |
country: | Romania, Germany |
year: | 2014 |
genre: | documentary |
directed by: | Christiane Schmidt, Didier Guillain |
film run: | 101' |
cinematography by: | Christiane Schmidt |
film editing: | Lena Hatebur |
producer: | Ferdinand Freising |
production: | Hochschule für Fernsehen und Film München (HFF) |