Latcho Drom film still

Each month, Melanie Friesen invites a distinguished guest to Vancity Theatre’s Cinema Salon, in order to present his/her favourite film. After the screening, both audience and speaker have the opportunity to engage over drinks and snacks in the Vancity lounge. This month’s film is Latcho Drom, a film that captures the world of gypsy music, dance, history and survival.

This film traces the thousand-year passage of the nomadic Romany people, starting with their origins in Rajasthan, whirling west through Egypt, Turkey, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, France and Spain. Latcho Drom is a mesmerizing film contrasting the Romany’s dignity with their suffering.

From a Gypsy survivor of Auschwitz singing a tragic lament to a fabulous homage paid to the legendary gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt – this is, to quote the film’s director Tony Gatlif, “…a hymn that recreates a link, through music, for all the gypsy people.”

Paolo Pietropaolo

This month’s Cinema Salon is hosted by Paolo Pietropaolo, a freelance journalist, composer and producer, and the host of In Concert on CBC Radio 2. Pietropaolo’s audio documentary work includes the series The Wire: the Impact of Electricity on Music, winner of both a Peabody Award and the Prix Italia.

Paolo can be heard regularly on other CBC Radio programs including North by Northwest and The Signature Series. Paolo additionally hosted the jazz show Hot Air, created the CBC Radio 3 Bucky Awards, and served as cultural correspondent for CBC TV’s coverage of the 2006 Winter Olympics.

Vancity Cinema Salon with Paolo Pietropaolo Presents Latcho Drom

Date: Tuesday, November 13, 6:30 pm
Venue: Vancity Theatre, 1181 Seymour Street, Vancouver
Tickets: $13.00; may be purchased online

Note: November Cinema Salon is at a different time and date than usual due to the American presidential election.

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