Djam

Algerian-born Tony Gatlif has had a long and memorable career as a filmmaker. If there is a common denominator to his many films, it must be his profound affection for people who find themselves on the margins of society: gypsies, roma, travellers. He conveys not only the hardships of their existence, but delves deep down into the vibrancy and life-affirming celebration that also characterises their culture.

In Djam, the titular character, a young Greek woman, is sent on a mission by her uncle to Istanbul to find a part that will enable him to fix their house boat. There she meets Avril, a French woman who has chosen to volunteer as an aid worker for Syrian refugees in Turkey. Broke and in a difficult situation, Avril ends up joining Djam. Their journey to find the spare part and return to Greece becomes an adventure, filled with music, excitement and laughter.

From the director that gave us unforgettable moments in films such as Latcho Drom and Gadjo Dilo, comes a road movie that earns much of its charm to the great performance from Daphne Patakia (known from Mustang) in the leading role. Lasse Skagen

Tony Gatlif (b. 1948) is a French director, scriptwriter, actor and producer. Born in Algeria, and of Romani background, he first won international acclaim for Latcho Drom, a documentary which traces the history of gypsies in Europe and Asia. Gatlif has won numerous awards for his films, and is a professor at the national French film school La Fémis.