Writer/Director: Jan Dunn

Producer: Elaine Wickham

Kent Filming Locations: Thanet

Stunning British debut
Sunday Express

Hottest ticket at Cannes
Yahoo

Gypo is one of the most moving and joyous films I've seen
IMDB Pro

Gypo is shot in a pseudo-documentary style, and is the first UK feature film to be certified as an official Dogme95 film. Gypo has been a success story from the outset, securing a sales agent at its first screening, and being the only privately financed UK feature film to secure a US distribution deal at Cannes   just two weeks later. Having sold worldwide, most notably to UK distributor Lionsgate (Bend it Like Beckham, The Gift) Gypo has been selected in competition by numerous international film festivals, including the prestigious Edinburgh International Film Festival where it was shortlisted for the Michael Powell 'Best British Film' award, and receiving a five star review in Scotland's Sunday Herald and four-star review in the Scotsman. The film has won Outstanding Achievement in Production award at the 2005 British Independent Film Awards and Best First Feature Award at the San Francisco Frameline Film Festival.

Chloe Sirene and Freddie Connor running along Ramsgate Harbour In Gypo 2005 © Medb Films

 Helen (Pauline McLynn) has been married to Paul (Paul McGann) for twenty-five years. She lives a monotonous and frozen existence. Helen is desperate, damaged, and looking for change…

Paul is on the brink of a breakdown, sick and tired of being in the poverty trap. Bitter, hypocritical, and bigoted, Paul's biggest fear is change…

Into their lives comes Tasha (Chloe Sirene), a Romany Czech refugee, awaiting her British passport and her chance for freedom - a concept taken for granted by all those around her.

Gypo, told in three revelatory narratives, each from a particular character's point of view, reveals how the disintegration of an ordinary working class family finally comes to a head when unexpected emotions are unleashed.

An innovative, gripping and engaging journey into the heart of a dysfunctional British family on the Kent coast, Gypo reveals how suburban fears and tabloid sensationalism have come to perpetuate the myths surrounding refugees.

 In order to qualify as a Dogme 95 film there are rules of chastity that the director must adhere to:- Props must not be brought in, if a prop is needed, a location must be chosen where the prop can be found, camera should be hand held, music can only be used if it occurs in the place the scene is shot and no superficial action must take place i.e. no murders can occur or weapons used.

Director Jan Dunn and Gypo Crew at Ramsgate Harbour: © Medb Films>

Since their success with GYPO, Elaine Wickham and Jan Dunn, the team behind Medb Films have made a second feature set in East Kent, RUBY BLUE starring Bob Hoskins, as well as a short, MY MOTHER, both currently in post production. Elaine and Jan are members of the Kent Film & Television Board 

More praise for Gypo and Medb Films The acting is superb.
San Francisco Chronicle

A remarkable achievement (****)
The Scotsman

Jaw-dropping performances (*****)
Sunday Herald

Dunn shows she has bottle as well as brains
Sunday Herald

Dunn proves herself a promising new talent with an accomplished debut
Screen International

The outstanding Pauline McLynn
Hollywood Reporter

Jan Dunn makes a feature-directing debut that marks her as a filmmaker to watch Hollywood Reporter

Some films just make you really proud of UK filmmaking
Iofilm.com

With thanks to Jan Dunn and Elaine Wickham from Medb Films for the photos

Links

• To view a film about Medb films visit http://www.kenttv.com/programmes.php?CID=15&SCID=38&PID=1271&Title=Ruby+Blue
• For more information about Medb Films www.medbfilms.co.uk
• For more information about Dogme visit http://www.dogme95.dk/menu/menuset.htm