The Vagabond's Garden opens with an evocative gaze on an empty country road, winding like a river into the distance. In search of a sense of belonging for nomadic people in Germany, the director embarks on a journey through their stories. She follows four semi-nomadic women and sheds light on their ways of life. Magdalena, a journeywoman, plans to settle as a farmer after almost four years of traveling. Will she find peace in a settled life after this journey of freedom? Johanna, an activist, lives in a converted truck and constantly moves between trailer parks. The film explores her sense of home in constant motion. I also accompany the community of Yenish women, who move seasonally from place to place. Elvira, a former high wire artist, and her granddaughter Ghislaine strive to sustain their market life. In The Vagabond’s Garden they appear on camera for the first time, making their political struggle for recognition visible.The film illuminates the potential of nomadism. Poetic reflections paint a picture of wanderers that is largely unknown to public consciousness. Can a "life on the move" with minimal possessions offer a model for our future?
Credits (Excerpt)
Director: Anna Friedrich
DOPs: Robin Angst, Leo Schmidt, Ray Peter Maletzki, Anna Friedrich
Soundrecording: Alejandro Weyler, Malte Wehweck, Anna Friedrich
Sounddesign: Irma Heinig
Colourgrading: Till Beckmann
Music: Max van Dusen, Trio Manou
Re-Recording Mixer: Lambert Regel
Posterillustration: ricaletto
Filmgraphics: Nick Teplov
Production: Ray Peter Maletzki & Stephan Helmut Beier
A Rosenpictures Filmproduktion together with MDR and Filmuniversity Babelsberg Konrad Wolf*
