The Shutka Book of Records

The Shutka Book of Records

Watch this episode now on 4oD Roma children dancing

Shutka is a town of superlatives. Everyone proclaims to be a champion at something.

Who is the best at protecting the community from evil spirits? Who is the most talented singer in town? Meet the 'lamb champion' of 35 years and the greatest lover. They all star in Aleksandar Manic's unique film about Shutka, Macedonia, where the largest Roma community in the Balkans resides.

The Shutka Book of Records captures the idiosyncrasies of Roma culture, revealing the humour and tall stories of an ancient travelling people who are often persecuted but little understood.

The most obscure pursuits, from vampire hunting to training geese to fight and collecting hard-to-find cassettes of Turkish music, are all fair game in the townspeoples' constant quest for one-upmanship.

With most of the community living on welfare, next door to a vast refugee camp left over from the Kosovan conflict, Shutka could easily be a depressing, hopeless place.

While Shutka is cash poor, it is rich in imagination, and with so many champions in Shutka, there are opportunities for everyone.

On TV

First Shown

Date Time Channel
Tuesday 02 June 2009 11.05PM More4

Last Shown

Date Time Channel
Wednesday 03 June 2009 2.45AM More4

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Comments

  1. I was in Macedonia in 2002 for a month. Two weeks of which was spent in Shutka. I was with a group of volunteers helping to run a Cafe in the town centre. We gave the old & disabled people a good meal. Starter, Main Meal and Afters. This was a great experience that I will never forget. I have a some Photographs from my time there that I will be uploading to my website shortly. It was very strange to see some of the people I meet while I was there. Would it be possible to buy a DVD of this documentary film? Great film!! 10 out of 10
    Posted by MARK BARFOOT on 22/09/2009 22:58:42
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  2. THIS FILM WAS THE BEST FILM EVER.NOW IT'S BEEN TWO MONTHS AGO.AND STILL.YOU HAVEN'T REPEATED IT YET ON EITHER MORE4 OR OTHER TV PROGRAMS.WHY IS THIS.AND PLEASE CAN YOU TELL ME.WERE ON EARTH CAN I GO AND BUY THE DVD CAN I BUY IT FROM YOU OR OTHER SOURCES.
    Posted by STAVROS on 11/08/2009 22:41:36
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  3. Genius! The funniest documentary I've ever seen and the perfect antidote for disillusioned rat-racers.
    Posted by Chris on 03/06/2009 16:57:24
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Last on:

Wednesday 03 June

2.45AM, More4

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