“Rom” is not a simple documentary about gypsies, it is an outstanding poetic audiovisual treatise. The principal axle is the eye of the director. These two viewpoints form a creative movement touching on magic, myth, and the sociological and historical reality of a people. But above all, the electrifying dancing motion and beauty of the gypsy race is presented through expert imagery and a matching soundtrack.
Bakogiannopoulos, newspaper “KATHIMERINI”
Karamaghiolis plays with the camera, with the colours and the faces. His images dance to sensitive cords and swing to the melodies of humanism. Great tension!
Dimitris Danikas, newspaper “RIZOSPASTIS”
“We didn’t want to miss a scene !” Menelaos Karamaghiolis’ film the “ROM” is an almost perfectly accurate description of the gypsies. It is the sort of film that one watches sitting tensely at the edge of a chair from fear of loosing a single scene.
Rozita Sokou, newspaper “APOGEUMATINI”
In a full house, the public watched in silence and great respect the dramatized documentary “Rom”. Every detail in this work had been executed with great gusto amd this was apparent to the applauding audience, who shouted “bravo” long after the show was over.
Vasilis Bouziotis, newspaper “EPIKAIROTITA”
The historical itinerary of a people, the rough lyricism of their language, the idols and objects accompanying them and their underlying connection with myth, are the elements composing Menelaos Karamaghiolis’ excellent film. His close inquiry into the various activities of the gypsies captures the audience right from the start, without however offering easy material to look at. He obviously has the ability to unravel and present those hidden details combining symbols with real poetry, and the multi -dimensional significance of the visual with the charm of the object itself; in this case a people who survive under constantly changing skies.
Lefteris Kypraios, newspaper “ELEFTHEROS TYPOS”
“A surprise documentary !” In Greece, we do not have the opportunity to see documentaries of such quality and this gives a greater significance to “Rom”. The imagery of the film records, exceptionally well, the myth through the history and contradictions of gypsy life.
Nontas Manolitsis, newspaper “MESEMBRINI”
The dramatized documentary “Rom”, directed by Menelaos Karamaghiolis impressed the audience. The film uplifts the audiance. While offering interesting information and entertaiment. These qualities are the result of excellent directing impregnated by knowledge, vision and poetry. The structural achievements combined with good collaboration gives the audience the opportunity to see how a good documentary is done.
Alexis Dermetzoglou, newspaper “THESSALONIKI”
Karamaghiolis’ documentary uplifts, and even becomes eery as it unravels the pagan element of a simple life, bound with fatalism, always ambulant and always experienced through magic, but with devotion to oral traditions. The gypsies of this powerful and poetic documentary appear as a windly beautiful people, who survive illicitly “outside the city walls”.
Nikos Zachariades, newspaper “AVGI”
The documentary “Rom” received great applause Tuesday evening in a packed hall at the Society for Macedonian Studies. The audience cheered the director Menelaos Karamaghiolis and his collaborators, and everyone seemed to agree that “Rom” was indeed a wonderful film.
Sophia Dedemadi, newspaper “ELEFTHEROS TYPOS”
“Rom” was met with great enthousiasm the night before last. The young director was cheered and applauded by everyone in the hall.
Michael Valianatos, newspaper “PROTI”
Karamaghiolis main achievement is that everyone admits that Rom is a turning point in Greek documentary films’ history…
Katerina Athanasiadou “CRITICAL GUIDE TO EUROPEAN DIRECTORS”, Wallpaper publication
