Gypsy Punk Hits the Big Screen with GOGOL BORDELLO: NON STOP

Hold on to your hats as Eugene Hutz and the gypsy punk band Gogol Bordello explode onto the screen in the documentary GOGOL BORDELLO: NON-STOP. Opening in limited release over the next two weeks, GOGOL BORDELLO: NON-STOP is a guaranteed good time for all.

Talk about living the American Dream!! Eugene Hutz certainly has. The heart and soul of Gogol Bordello, this is essentially his story, chronicled by director Margarita Jimeno. Picking up Hutz’ tale in 2001, Jimeno discovers the band bringing down the house at the Bulgarian Bar Mehanata in Chinatown, New York. An eclectic blend of concert footage, rare home movies of Hutz from his his teenaged years in Kiev and interviews with band members, friends, fans and Hutz himself, all are interwoven into a high octane tapestried and textured presentation that will have you dancing in the aisles!

Poignant and heartfelt, we are privy to a 1988 Hutz family New Year’s Eve gathering where Eugene's uncle’s fondest wish for Eugene is that he leave Kiev, go to America and join the U.S. Army. Little did his uncle know, the Army was the furthest thing from Eugene’s mind. One of the last 100 people left in Russia with refugee status, Eugene and his family ultimately made it out of Kiev. Allowed only $400.00 dollars per family and limited personal items, Eugene brought 20 records with him, 2 guitars and bag a Russian watches as he thought tourists would want to buy them. Unequipped for life outside Russia, the family was stripped of all documents, having to give up citizenship in order to get refugee status. Initially taken to Austria, life was tough for Hutz and his family. With no holds barred honesty, he talks about facing one disappointment after another "until there are no more expectations." Yet, despite all that he has lost, there is no bitterness. There is only joy. There is celebration. There is peace. There is freedom. Freedom to make music. Freedom to embrace life and all to has to offer. Freedom to belt out lyrics laden with blatant socio-political and religious commentary such as "Immigrant Punk" and "Legalize Me." All of which is exquisitely captured on film by Jimeno in Gogol Bordello’s mind blowing concerts - both big and small.

Eventually making his way to the US, what started as a birthday party for Hutz at a Bulgarian bar quickly turned into a weekly gig for what would soon become an international phenomenon - Gogol Bordello. Hand picking his band members, Hutz’ expounds on his criteria for band membership. Character counts and is first and foremost to him, followed by a musician’s willingness to be part of an ensemble and ultimately, one must embrace Hutz’s core belief of "playing for the joy of playing music." As time passed, Hutz put together a motley crew of some extremely talented fellow immigrants including Yuri Lemeshev on accordion, Sergey Ryabtsev on violin, Oren Kaplan on guitar, and Eliot Ferguson on drums, as well as dancer-percussionists Pamela Racine and Elizabeth Sun. The interviews with these individuals showcase the true love and admiration each has for Hutz and his frentic, kineticism and creativity.

Known for his outrageous storming of the stage, individualized hand sewn costumes reflect the lyrics of each song. Through the band’s performances and thanks to superlative editing by Jenny Golden and Jimeno that pulsates to the beat of Gogol Bordello , the gypsy punk experience is captured in its most glorious as we see Hutz’ go full throttle with his "possibly perverse" non-stop on stage dynamic presence (often performing in clubs for 6 hours at a stretch). As much as the clubbers and concert-goers come to be a part of the live show and embrace an atmosphere of enjoyment that "throws away the hierarchy of society", so will you with this kaleidoscopic, heart-pounding, introspective into one of the hottest groups on the international music scene.

Adding to the localized frenzied fever surrounding the release of this documentary is undoubtedly MadonnaMadonna’s current "Sticky and Sweet" tour which features Roma (gypsy) dancers and which has garnered both applause and derisive disapproval in Romania for Madonna’s political expressions concerning the Roma. (Bearing the centuries old stigma of being thieves and scoundrels, the Roma still face discrimination in the Eastern European region, something which Madonna would like people to put aside and instead, celebrate and appreciate the artistic and musical gifts these people bring to the world.) Important to note is that Eugene Hutz and Gogol Bordello are prominently featured in the film "Filth & Wisdom" which marked Madonna’s directorial debut. Hutz is actually the star...and a kick in the ass!

One of my Must See Festival Films at the November 2008 AFI Fest, GOGOL BORDELLO: NON-STOP remains a must see today. GOGOL BORDELLO: NON-STOP is non-stop entertainment.

Eugene Hutz and Gogol Bordello.

Directed by Margarita Jimeno.