WITH OR WITHOUT MAGIC: REALISM IN KUSTURICA'S TIME OF THE GYPSIES

Abstract

Being one of the established directors of the Balkan cinemas, Emir Kusturica isconsidered a controversial figure, especially in his homeland Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is largely due to his problematic representation of the troubled Balkan past. After a highly political and much discussed film like Otac nasluzbenom putu (When Father Was Away on Business) (1985), however, we see ashift in his cinematic style with the apolitical Dom za vesanje (Time of the Gypsies)(1988).In Time of the Gypsies, Kusturica provides a good deal of realistic depictions of the Gypsy life and culture, which makes the audience have an idea about the community. Kusturica also pays attention to making social commentary on such crucial subject matter as illegal migration, and human trafficking. Nevertheless,Perhan - the protagonist of the film - has telekinetic powers, and his grandmotheris a charm-healer. Moreover, Perhan's dreams play a significant role through out the film. However, these elements do not come off as fantastical elements, and thefilm is not listed as fantasy genre-wise. They seem to be essential parts of the film,which makes the audience accept them as they are. Hence the film does not lose any of its credibility. Kusturica owes the success of the film's healthy dose of magicrealism to the colorful Gypsy culture and vibrant Romani characters. My mainargument in this paper will be that Time of the Gypsies makes substantial use of magic realism and I will endeavor to investigate how it does so.