Because Romanies have never had a written language, their history and roots have been lost. No one knows for sure where they came from, although the linguistically-oriented studies cited in Angus Fraser's book The Gypsies point to the deserts of Rajasthan, claiming that there were massive waves of migration from the area that today is India around 300 BC. The lack of written history led filmmaker Tony Gatlif - himself of Romany origin - to map the music of his people in the film Latcho Drom. "Because our history is unknown and is not written down in books, we can make conjectures about the origin of the Romanies through music," says Gatlif. "This is why there is no commentary in my film; it wasn't meant for tourists. I wanted people to watch it as if a friend had invited them to come and take part in this music - sharing experiences brings people together." Gatlif was also motivated by the racism that Romanies encounter everywhere they go. "In India, Romanies are lower than the untouchables", he says. "People spit when they see a Romany approaching. Everywhere they hate them. I chose music because it is irresistible. It speaks to the soul, and racism arises when the relationship between the soul and everyday life is disturbed. When Romanies play music, you feel the connection with the soul." In shooting the film, Gatlif traveled from the deserts of Rajasthan to the ghettos of Spain, stopping in Turkey, Egypt, Hungary, Slovakia and Romania, where he recorded an improvised concert by Taraf de Haidouks. "They've started to become famous in Europe, and even did a concert with Yehudi Menuhin. But back home in Clejani they live in dirt houses and face the same problems as the other villagers. Racism in Romania is extremely harsh. Two years ago they burned down a Romany house near Clejani, with people still in it. Two hundred people had to hide in the woods from the mob that burned that house down."
Racism in its peculiarly Eastern European form of ethnic cleansing is a growing problem today. According to Michael Winter, not even attention from the media can protect Taraf de Haidouks from the ongoing collapse of the Romanian economy and society. Jews and Romanies have been scapegoats in Eastern Europe for entire centuries, and the situation is no better today. "In France Romanies have formed organizations against racism. Romania is 100% racist with regard to Romanies," Winter says. "Before the revolution there were no minorities, everyone was Romanian. Now that their old culture has returned they say, 'Get out of here, we'll burn down your houses.'"