French Director Tony Gatlif Passes Away at 77
Renowned director Tony Gatlif, who brought Romani culture and migration to cinema, passed away in Arles, where he was working on a new film project.
French director Tony Gatlif, known for his films addressing Romani culture, migration, and music, has passed away at the age of 77 in the French city of Arles.
Passed Away in Arles
French director Tony Gatlif passed away at the age of 77 due to a health issue while working on a historical film project in Arles, France. His family bid him farewell with the words "Latcho Drom," which means have a safe journey in the Romani language.
A Life Spanning from Algeria to France
Born in Algeria in 1948 with the birth name Michel Dahmani, the artist was of Berber and Romani descent. Having migrated to France with his family during the Algerian War of Independence, the director later acquired French citizenship.
International Successes and Awards
Gatlif gained international recognition and received an award at the Cannes Film Festival with his 1993 film Latcho Drom, which chronicles the journey of Romani music from India to Spain. While his film Gadjo Dilo won the Silver Leopard at the Locarno Film Festival, he was also awarded the best director prize at Cannes in 2004 for his film Exils.
Sulukule Visit and Connection to Turkey
The director had also visited the Sulukule neighborhood, inhabited by the Romani community, during his visit to Istanbul in 2008 as a guest of the Istanbul Film Festival. Gatlif had worked with actor Birol Ünel, who passed away in 2020, in the film Transylvania.