Whilst in Serbia, one can not bypass the movie world of Emir Kustorica. A Yugoslav film maker, famous for his Balkan Romani-themed movies, creating un-imaginable worlds. As much as he seems to be ridiculing the culture at times, I actually have experienced plenty of scenes which could have been part of the movies, however, they occurred ion reality when researching and jamming music with Romany musicians in former Yugoslavian regions.
Lets start our cyber explorations in the real village of Drvengrad, a village built by the famous Balkan Movie maker Emir Kustorica to function as scenery in his movies. It is such a beautiful place, I will first share my own snaps taken there on my visit in 2006:
Some more professional images, and some history about this lovely village you van read here:
The movies are full of fantastic music - as they gained fame around the western world, Balkan Romany music also became famous. It's high time you dive yourself a little into the Emir Kustorica's world. Lets start wit one bit of music, the Underground Tango from the movie Underground:
In my own concerts, I dive regularly underground, in as many meanings as the word offers. Here a little excerpt from a Tatcho Drom performance, a dance medley starting with a Serbian Rhumba BoCaCeZo, then we drop into our interpretation Kustino Oro, from the same movie as above:
Lets finish todays journey with another learning experience for yourself. This is Bizerka, a great cheerful waltz tune, I love the social dance for it at least as much as the tune....
