Comments on: Review: Gypsy Child Thieves http://thethirdestate.net/2009/09/review-gypsy-child-thieves/ What Is The Third Estate? Everything. What Has It Been Until Now In The Political Order? Nothing. What Does It Want To Be? Something. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:19:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: Renegade Eye http://thethirdestate.net/2009/09/review-gypsy-child-thieves/comment-page-1/#comment-4032 Renegade Eye Mon, 07 Sep 2009 04:18:13 +0000 http://thethirdestate.net/?p=1907#comment-4032 I enjoyed reading the history of Gypsys, through studying the history of flamenco. I enjoyed reading the history of Gypsys, through studying the history of flamenco.

]]> By: Carl http://thethirdestate.net/2009/09/review-gypsy-child-thieves/comment-page-1/#comment-4018 Carl Sun, 06 Sep 2009 21:29:32 +0000 http://thethirdestate.net/?p=1907#comment-4018 Well yes, I guess if you were being sold a film about its history, the Roma plight etc, you were sold short. But for what it's worth, the film did reinforce the notion that blame extends further than just the community itself. I mean, if it achieved anything it was that many forces are at play, and it is too simple to blame the child him/herself. The rich criminal leader for example, and the lifestyle he introduced us to, that was truly appalling. A historical document may have been too far reaching for the filmmaker, but certainly something more in this direction should be considered, and would be well due. Well yes, I guess if you were being sold a film about its history, the Roma plight etc, you were sold short. But for what it’s worth, the film did reinforce the notion that blame extends further than just the community itself. I mean, if it achieved anything it was that many forces are at play, and it is too simple to blame the child him/herself. The rich criminal leader for example, and the lifestyle he introduced us to, that was truly appalling. A historical document may have been too far reaching for the filmmaker, but certainly something more in this direction should be considered, and would be well due.

]]> By: Owen http://thethirdestate.net/2009/09/review-gypsy-child-thieves/comment-page-1/#comment-4017 Owen Sun, 06 Sep 2009 21:08:32 +0000 http://thethirdestate.net/?p=1907#comment-4017 I really like your post, and I didn't mean to imply that I think the Gypsies in the film were in any way misrepresented. The documentary did, as you say, make a convincing case that a life of crime is pretty much the norm for Romani people, and that it's a problem that needs to be addressed, and that's something I should really have acknowledged more clearly in my post. I still think my point about a lack of contextualisation remains valid, though - some kind of explanation as to how the present state of affairs came about was sorely lacking. I really like your post, and I didn’t mean to imply that I think the Gypsies in the film were in any way misrepresented. The documentary did, as you say, make a convincing case that a life of crime is pretty much the norm for Romani people, and that it’s a problem that needs to be addressed, and that’s something I should really have acknowledged more clearly in my post. I still think my point about a lack of contextualisation remains valid, though – some kind of explanation as to how the present state of affairs came about was sorely lacking.

]]> By: Carl http://thethirdestate.net/2009/09/review-gypsy-child-thieves/comment-page-1/#comment-4016 Carl Sun, 06 Sep 2009 20:56:00 +0000 http://thethirdestate.net/?p=1907#comment-4016 I must say, though I can see what your saying, I think the film adequately allowed for the opinion that those who enforce child exploitation are the ones to blame, and then not least the community who do little but villify them. But I think the film has forced far tougher questions for us, questions that sit uneasy with our more wooly instincts. Its not a false statement to say that those children are thieves, but what is even more difficult to juggle is the idea that that is a generational trait in those communities. The good ideas are coming from people who are finding solutions for those kids and the next generation, like the Italian community worker. If I'm not making myself clear then I hope I have in my entry <a href="http://raincoatoptimism.wordpress.com/2009/09/05/musings-on-race-and-child-thieves/" rel="nofollow">about the documentary here</a>. I digress on the further questions, but my conclusion is that, tough though the road may be, the case of the girl at the end who achieves a good education is the way forward, and the decidedly progressive angle with which we should read this film. I must say, though I can see what your saying, I think the film adequately allowed for the opinion that those who enforce child exploitation are the ones to blame, and then not least the community who do little but villify them. But I think the film has forced far tougher questions for us, questions that sit uneasy with our more wooly instincts. Its not a false statement to say that those children are thieves, but what is even more difficult to juggle is the idea that that is a generational trait in those communities. The good ideas are coming from people who are finding solutions for those kids and the next generation, like the Italian community worker.

If I’m not making myself clear then I hope I have in my entry about the documentary here. I digress on the further questions, but my conclusion is that, tough though the road may be, the case of the girl at the end who achieves a good education is the way forward, and the decidedly progressive angle with which we should read this film.

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