Films to see

Gypo is an interesting film following the "Dogme" style (shot on location using a handheld camera, etc.)

It proves that low-budget films can be just as (if not more) engaging than really expensive pictures full of special effects. The film has an interesting structure composed of three different perspectives on the same set of events. This is done in a highly skilled way, and just when you'll think you have the film figured out, something unexpected happens. Plot aspects are all very well foreshadowed - most of the time not within the same perspective, binding the film nicely together.

The main theme, as the title suggests, is racism and refugees, but the film offers much more than just that. The characters are not just archetypes, but they all have their own histories and agendas. This makes the film very believable. Each of the different points of view in the film has its own tone and atmosphere, which adds to the idea of how the same events can be quite different for different people. Parts of the film might seem a bit depressive or even enraging, but that is not the general mood of the picture, and having watched it shouldn't make you feel bad.

The only thing that really needs to be criticised about this film is that there are a few details that seem like factual mistakes, mainly relating to the origin and language of the refugees shown in the film. It is either due to insufficient research, or it could be done on purpose for the sake of the story. It could, in theory, also be a deliberate choice meant to strengthen the idea of misconceptions and stereotyping, but this seems a bit unlikely. Either way, this is not actually hurting the film, because it's making the story work, and those added details (though wrong) are making it seem more real and natural.

Gypo is a real treat for any film enthusiast looking for something fresh and stimulating. It manages to look both brand new and yet relate to the times when people still knew how to make amazing films without the technology.