lala my redhead

Love and poverty, betrayal and wealth - centuries of traditions put to the test! A compelling story intricately woven into a comprehensive exploration of women’s status against the backdrop of the Roma culture. From the director of an award-winning film in Cannes 2023.

“I worked in my tenure at Sony with Emir Kusturica in Cannes for his brilliant film: “Time of The Gypsies”, when I read the script for “Lala, my redhead” I immediately saw the connection : I trust you will like it too. “  Bruno Chatelin filmfestivals.com founder.

BRIEF SYNOPSIS

EARLY 1990s

VELCHO, a handsome and spirited young man, charges atop his horse with unwavering determination to win the race and claim the hand of the market’s most beautiful bride – LELA, his love. Fueled by cherished childhood memories of Lela’s mother secretly reading books to them - their clandestine readings a defiance of the clan’s traditions - Velcho’s resolve is unwavering. Despite Velcho’s triumphant victory in the race, his hope takes a heart-wrenching turn as Lela becomes a pawn in a shameful negotiation and ultimately finds herself betrothed to PETKO, a wealthier suitor. Velcho leaves to never return.

YEARS LATER

DANA, a fiery young redhead and the only child of Petko and the late Lela makes a difficult decision to drop out of college in order to rescue her father from the grip of poverty. Determined to alleviate his financial struggles, she insists that her father arrange her marriage at the upcoming annual brides market. Petko  gradually succumbs to her plea, unaware of the deep-rooted motive that drives Dana’s selfless decision.

Dana’s appearance at the market causes a stir. No one can compete with her beauty. The market’s chaotic, if not false, façade of festivity amidst petty bargaining for uncertain futures sickens Dana. Witnessing a bargain for a young girl reminds Dana of her childhood friend DONKA, who was sold a few years earlier to a much older man and later died during the childbirth.

Petko’s arrival at the market is no less remarkable - he is known to disregard the clan’s traditions. Holding Dana’s hand, he walks her through the crowds of astonished men and envious women. Convinced with how he and Lela found love in their arranged marriage, Petko accepts a proposal from a once rival family whose son ROMAN is widely presented as an aspiring student from Brussels. Petko refuses to take money for his daughter. Instead Roman’s family promises that Dana will also study in Brussels. Confident of her father’s choice and hopeful that her sacrifice will finally settle his credits, Dana is unaware of Petko’s selfless act.

Avoiding wedding celebrations, Roman, who turns out an indebted sex-trafficker, hurries to deliver his ‘beautiful virgin’ to a special client.

Upon their arrival to Brussels, a taxi driver, who happens to be Velcho, is stunned by Dana’s resemblance to his young love Lela. He cannot hold himself from following their car.

Roman locks Dana at a trafficker’s nest for long hours. Exhausted with fear, Dana doses off and sees her late mother Lela who tells her of the Gypsy tradition when a mother might give a secret name to her newborns to protect them from the evil. Lela reveals that Dana’s true name is LALA, which means redhead. Criticized, just like her mother was, for not obliging with the clan’s expectations of a woman’s role, Lela’s wish was for her daughter Lala to become strong and independent. Dana awakens to the chance to free herself.

At the same time, Petko, struck by premonition, also sees Lela whispering “la…la” in his dreams, but cannot understand the significance that her whisper holds.

Meanwhile, Velcho, whose car is parked by the place where Roman and Dana got off, simply cannot drive away. He is overwhelmed with his memories of Lela. It’s a deep night now, but he feels as if Lela holds him there, his worrisome suspicion of the surroundings keeps growing. Finally, he convinces himself that these are just painful memories from the past and is about to leave when Dana darts out of a building pursued by a man.

Velcho drives Dana to escape, while Petko, convinced that Dana must be saved from something he doesn’t yet know, rushes to the train station.

Waiting for a train, Petko falls asleep. Will he wake up? Dana is on her train back reminded that she a strong Lala. “Lala, my redhead,” her mother says.

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