Korkoro 2011

In the heart of rural Vichy France, amidst the tumultuous backdrop of World War II, a young boy named Claude (Mathias Laliberté) flees from the confines of an orphanage and embarks on a journey of self-discovery. As he navigates the uncertain terrain, he stumbles upon a Romani caravan, an extended family of 20 individuals who welcome him with open arms. The nomadic lifestyle of these free-spirited travelers captivates Claude, and he decides to join them, adopting the nickname Korkoro, or “the free one,” from his new kin.

As the Romani settle their camp on the outskirts of a small wine-growing village, tensions simmer beneath the surface. The community is divided into two factions: one that views the Romani as an integral part of their lives and another that sees them as an unwanted intrusion. Amidst this backdrop of uncertainty, Théodore Rosier (Marc Lavoine), the compassionate village mayor and veterinarian, and Mademoiselle Lundi (Marie-Josée Croze), a dedicated school teacher and clerk in city hall, emerge as beacons of hope. These well-meaning individuals go to great lengths to protect the Romani, with Lundi using her administrative powers to forge their passports and remove any documentation that could incriminate them.

As fate would have it, Rosier suffers an accident outside the village, and it is the very people he has come to trust who rescue him and treat his wounds with their traditional healing practices. In a bold move, Rosier sells his family’s ancestral home to safeguard the Romani from the oppressive policies of the Fascist regime, which targets those without fixed abodes. Lundi, meanwhile, takes it upon herself to enroll the Romani children in her school, introducing them to the world of formal education.

As the Nazis begin their reign of terror, Rosier and Lundi’s true identities as members of the French Resistance are revealed. The two are arrested, subjected to brutal interrogation, and forced to confront the harsh realities of war. In a desperate bid to protect themselves and those they hold dear, the Romani are rounded up and sent to concentration camps. Amidst this chaos, Claude, now deeply connected to his adoptive family, chooses to join them in their struggle for survival.

The fate of these resilient individuals hangs precariously in the balance as they face the uncertain future ahead, their stories forever intertwined with the tumultuous landscape of war-torn France.