The documentary is a fine example of creative research. It convincingly conveys the atmosphere of both the past and the present of the Traveller community and the contrast between the two. A nice leitmotif of the film is nostalgia of the older generation as well as the younger one. Adding vividly illustrative pictures, the film appears to be a whole multi-layer insight into a peculiar and highly interesting aspect of Irish culture, explored by George and Sharon Gmelch. It allows the audience to dive into the days of people who “[took] advantage of the moment” and realistically deduced benefit when “tomorrow [didn’t] promise to be any different from today”. Moreover, the characters interviewed are tangibly diverse: from a grandmother of twenty five to a modern Traveller woman with bright make-up and tattoos. Nonetheless, they are all united by ever-present family binds, and it seems that the researchers have become a part of that family too, witnessing it growing and evolving.
Traveller community underwent substantial changes, both positive and negative. From the video we may assume that their material position improves. Now they have funds to pay for glamorous wedding with a number of guests. Families in the shot possess neat houses with some premises. As was mentioned, there are also successful businessmen among Travellers, who, however, did not want to be seen in the film due to discrimination factors. In addition, Travellers’ families become even more extended, with each having sufficient financial backing and warm kin relationships. On the other hand, unfavorable changes also took their place. Firstly, suicide record of family is more numerable now, though it was also present in the past times. As was said, a Traveller is “six times more likely to die by suicide” than a settled person. This comes as a result of Travellers’ reserved nature, especially men. Suppressing their feelings leads to such a sad outcome. Second problem concerns substance abuse. When Travellers first came to Dublin, they “didn’t drink at all,” and now alcohol has became a part of daily routine for some of them. Drugs as such were not present few decades ago in their lives too, which is different nowadays. As one of the women said, in the past people were poorer, but nicer, showing respect to each other and being deeply person-oriented.
We can assume that the level of happiness is consistent throughout times, though its shapes and forms change. In the past, people had freedom “in abundance,” they enjoyed their unsettled lifestyle, building their own culture with its different values and unique traditions. In black-and-white photographs they look real and original. It was also a great time to be a child, with a lot of outdoors activities and road experience. However, one should not forget our memory can play tricks on us, with nostalgia usually bringing up only the good parts of the past. In the present times, happiness may have shifted to more traditional forms, with Travellers having appropriate accommodations and jobs. On the other hand, they still do enjoy their huge extended families, which pass memories and traditions of the old times. They also may enjoy modern pleasures of technical progress, fashion and possibilities, such as travelling and getting proper education. Though young generation also revels in nostalgia, with times their pictures will also evoke warm feelings of those who come next. Happiness is about balance, and Travellers do have things such as traditional, cultural, family and business achievements to put on happiness weights, which is the main point.
Works cited
Unsettled: From Tinker to Traveller. University of San Francisco, 2012. Film.
