Filmmaker Tony Gatlif Dies at 77
3 sources across 3 countries · Brazil · Spain · United Kingdom
Who reported this
- Folha de S.Paulo
- El Pais
- The Guardian
What the colours mean
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- Centre-left
- Centre
- Centre-right
- Right
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Tony Gatlif, the French director known for his films celebrating Romani culture, has died at the age of 77. His family informed AFP that he passed away on Wednesday in Arles, located in the southeast of France, while he was working on a historical film project. In a statement, his wife, children, and grandchildren praised his generosity, poetry, and love of music, wishing him "latcho drom," a Romani phrase meaning "safe journey."
Born Michel Dahmani in 1948 in Algeria to a Kabyle father and Romani mother, Gatlif moved to France in 1960 during the Algerian war of independence. He later changed his name to Gatlif after a park in Algiers. Throughout his career, he directed more than 20 films that frequently highlighted marginalized communities and the importance of music. His notable works include the 1993 film Latcho Drom, which won an award at the Cannes film festival, and the 1997 film Gadjo Dilo. He also won the best director award at Cannes in 2004 for Exils, a film that explored his Algerian heritage. His most recent feature film, Ange, premiered in 2025.
France's minister of culture, Catherine Pégard, noted that Gatlif filmed exile, freedom, and lives that often go unnoticed with a unique energy. Center left sources framed him as a voice for marginalized communities, while center sources described him as a defender of Gypsy culture.
How each side framed it
- Centre-left
- These sources emphasized his role as a voice for marginalized communities.
- Centre
- This source framed him as a defender of Gypsy culture and highlighted his professional filmography.
Sources
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