Pages of My Book

As a part of our special In Focus: Romani Stories by Romani (Female) Directors, ENFF proudly presents a strong short documentary by the Bulgarian photographer and aspiring filmmaker Galya Stoyanova who chose the medium of film to investigate her identity and (self)acceptance as a young Roma woman living in Eastern Europe. Pages of My Book is an effective exercise to expose racism in society. Furthermore, in her capacity as a lawyer, Galya has relevant experience in the international Romani movement.

Synopsis

Gaze, and be gazed upon. Through her short film, Bulgarian Romani artist Galya Stoyanova heads off by bravely voicing her deepest insecurities and fears regarding her identity as a Roma woman. She puts on traditional clothes and takes the streets of Budapest to artistically examine the way she is perceived by the majority and whether their prejudices will impact her own self-perception. Galya’s experiment is based only partially on criticising the majority’s traditional stereotyping of Romani people. What is applied much more here is the subjective point of view of a Roma woman, who, in the process of inhabiting a city, photographs people and is herself photographed by a crew, realising a double (objectifying and objectified) role. The result is a beautiful, authentic identity essay in which Galya presents a very affirmative version of feminist identity politics.

Country: Bulgaria Year: 2013 Length: 5 min Director, Screenwriter: Galya Stoyanova Cinematography: Miklos Barna, Galya Stoyanova Editing: Eszter Kovacs, Miklos Barna, Galya Stoyanova Cast: Galya Stoyanova Production: Katalin Barsony – Romedia Foundation Dutch Premiere Tickets