Ceija Stojka

Ceija Stojka is a portrait of 64yearold Austrian Rom Ceija Stojka who after a nomadic childhood settled in Vienna many years ago In the recent past Ceija Stojkas fame as an author painter and singer has spread outside Austria She represents the opening of Rom and Sinti society to the world of the gadje This process and all the difficulties it involves is unique in the history of the Rom in Central Europe The central theme of this documentary is the fusion of two extremely different worlds in this fascinating woman Beginning with Ceija Stojkas present life her biography is reconstructed in this film portrait At the same time a critical chronology of images portrays the common associations with the gypsy examples of which pervade Ceija Stojkas life A comprehensive consideration of the gypsys image from romanticized projections to images of exclusion discrimination and destruction and finally the present ambivalent relationship between Rom and nonRom