Luca Vitone's 'Romanistan': A Road Movie Tracing Roma Migration from India to Europe

Luca Vitone, an Italian artist, has produced 'Romanistan', a documentary road film that chronicles the journey of the Roma community from India to Europe. Over a span of 43 days, Vitone and his team traversed the Balkans, Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, Iran, Pakistan, and India. This endeavor, which began a decade ago, was supported by a grant from the Italian Council, with Museo Pecci serving as a cultural collaborator. Additionally, Vitone launched an exhibition and a book titled 'Romanistan', showcasing a dozen artworks. The documentary features interviews with notable Roma figures, including Croatian MP Veljko Kajtazi and musician Santino Spinelli, and emphasizes the Roma's arrival in Europe during the late 1300s and in Italy in 1422, while critiquing their ongoing marginalization and Italy's 'nomad camps'.