EUROPA PASSAGE is a profound documentary film by Andrei Schwartz that follows the lives of a group of Romanian Roma over five years. These families commute between their home village of Namaiesti in Romania and Hamburg to earn a living by begging, as there are no job opportunities available to them at home. The film shows the constant challenges and difficulties they face, from discrimination and exclusion from urban emergency programs to the simple living conditions in their village. The story focuses particularly on Maria and Tirloi, who have somehow managed to establish some kind of normality in their lives, with Tirloi finding work and them moving into a small apartment. But despite this progress, Maria still has to go begging to make a living. Their journey is portrayed through the contrast between their harsh daily lives in Hamburg and the rare but meaningful trips back to their home village, where they reunite with their family and community. EUROPA PASSAGE offers an intimate insight into the lives of people on the margins of society and raises the question of Europe's responsibility towards its marginalized citizens. The film emphasizes the importance of education, as shown through the character of 13-year-old Ioana, who is the first in her family to learn to read and write. This aspect of the film highlights the hope for a better future by the next generation, despite the current misery. The documentary sheds light on the often overlooked or misunderstood aspects of Roma life in Europe and challenges viewers to rethink their prejudices and reflect on the deeper causes of poverty and migration. EUROPA PASSAGE is a powerful narrative that portrays the complexities of human survival and social integration in the modern world while exploring the bridges and barriers between different worlds.
A movie about people who have no chance but still try to make the best of it. And about the price they have to pay for it.
EUROPA PASSAGE is a profound documentary film by Andrei Schwartz that follows the lives of a group of Romanian Roma over five years. These families commute between their home village of Namaiesti in Romania and Hamburg to earn a living by begging, as there are no job opportunities available to them at home. The film shows the constant challenges and difficulties they face, from discrimination and exclusion from urban emergency programs to the simple living conditions in their village.
The story focuses particularly on Maria and Tirloi, who have somehow managed to establish some kind of normality in their lives, with Tirloi finding work and them moving into a small apartment. But despite this progress, Maria still has to go begging to make a living. Their journey is portrayed through the contrast between their harsh daily lives in Hamburg and the rare but meaningful trips back to their home village, where they reunite with their family and community.
EUROPA PASSAGE offers an intimate insight into the lives of people on the margins of society and raises the question of Europe's responsibility towards its marginalized citizens. The film emphasizes the importance of education, as shown through the character of 13-year-old Ioana, who is the first in her family to learn to read and write. This aspect of the film highlights the hope for a better future by the next generation, despite the current misery.
The documentary sheds light on the often overlooked or misunderstood aspects of Roma life in Europe and challenges viewers to rethink their prejudices and reflect on the deeper causes of poverty and migration. EUROPA PASSAGE is a powerful narrative that portrays the complexities of human survival and social integration in the modern world while exploring the bridges and barriers between different worlds.