How I Became a Partisan reveals a compelling, yet often overlooked chapter of World War II history through the lens of Romani resilience and heroism. Directed by Vera Lacková, the documentary delves into the untold stories of Roma partisans in former Czechoslovakia, focusing on her great-grandfather, Ján Lacko. In 1944, Lacko fought alongside Slovak partisans against Nazi occupiers, only to return to find his family murdered. His legacy, and those of other Romani fighters, remained obscured by prejudice and historical neglect.
Lacková’s film is both a personal quest and a broader historical investigation. As she traces her great-grandfather’s footsteps, she uncovers the stories of three other Roma partisans, revealing their harrowing experiences in concentration camps, battles, and post-war struggles. Through interviews, archival research, and visits to Slovak villages, the film confronts enduring anti-Roma sentiment and challenges the stereotype of the Roma as mere victims. The documentary not only highlights the heroic contributions of Roma fighters but also draws chilling parallels between past and present racial injustices in Europe, urging a reevaluation of their rightful place in history.
As a student film, How I Became a Partisan is a fantastic documentary, but as a resource for learning, it stumbles over its own feet. Lacková’s attempt to weave together past and present often overlooks the documented history viewers were promised, resulting in a dissatisfying documentary experience. As someone who was excited to learn about a topic I had no prior knowledge about, I was frustrated that this relatively unknown history took a backseat to long, uncomfortable moments of bigotry. The balance was just off. Those looking for proof of anti-Roma bigotry in modern Czech and Slovak culture will find plenty of evidence and others seeking representations of modern Roma culture will be satisfied. Still, those looking for a history documentary with a genealogical aspect will be displeased. Recommended.
Where does this title belong on public library shelves?
How I Became a Partisan belongs alongside Roma or European cultural documentaries.
What kind of film series could use this title?
How I Became a Partisan would be an excellent choice for a series on the perceptions and realities of bigotry. It often confronts the myth that “We don’t have that problem anymore” or "That doesn't happen here."
Director's Bio
Vera Lacková is a Roma director and film producer. She was born in Slovakia, but has lived in Vienna, Austria for several years. She is the founder of the Czech-Slovak production company Media Voice. Through her work with Roma, their stories and movements, she is able to bring a unique inside view of important, current and political Roma issues to her work. Her documentary debut HOW I BECAME PARTISAN celebrated its world premiere at the goEast Film Festival in Wiesbaden, where it was also awarded the Prize for Cultural Diversity by the German Federal Foreign Office. The film was developed as part of the Ex Oriente Film Workshop, pitched at the East Doc Platform 2020. The award-winning film is part of the East Silver Caravan distribution programme supported by the Institute of Documentary Film. In 2022, she participated as one of ten international documentary filmmakers in the CIRCLE Women Doc Accelerator. She has also been a mentee in the FC Gloria mentoring programme in Austria since summer 2022. Her documentary film O BARIPEN about the legacy of Roma writer Elena Lacková premiered at Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival in October 2023. She was invited as a member of European Film Academy in 2023.
Purchase Options
Click here to purchase the DVD of How I Became a Partisan for $29.95
Click here to purchase the DVD w/ PPR of How I Became a Partisan for $250
Click here to purchase the DSL & DVD w/ PPR of How I Became a Partisan for $375
Festivals & Awards
- Prize for Cultural Diversity of the Federal Foreign Office - goEast Film Festival - Germany
- Best Film - AKE DIKHEA? International Festival of Romani Film - Germany
- National Film Prize IGRIC in the Category of Film and TV Production - Slovakia
- Best Documentary - Tatra Bank Foundation Award for Audiovisual Art, TV and Radio - Slovakia
- Tatra Bank Foundation Award for Audiovisual Art, TV and Radio - Slovakia
- The Golden Kingfisher Award for Best Doc - Finále Plzeň Film Festival - Czech Republic
- Special Mention – Pavel Koutecký Award - Czech Republic
- Special Mention – ARAS - Czech Republic
- One World Slovakia - Slovakia
- Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival - Czech Republic
- CinEast, Central and Eastern European Film Festival - Luxembourg
- Kassel Documentary Film and Video Festival - Germany
- Borderlines Film Festival - United Kingdom
- Eastern Neighbors Film Festival - Netherlands
- One World International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival - Czech Republic
- Kino on the Border - Poland / Czech Republic
- Khamoro World Roma Festival - Czech Republic
- Middle Point Europe Film Festival - Germany
- This Is How We Make Spring - Germany
- ELBE DOCK International Film Festival - Czech Republic
- Sofia International Film Festival - Bulgaria
- Lubuskie Film Summer - Poland
- One World International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival - Czech Republic
- Verzio International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival - Hungary
- Slavonice Fest - Czech Republic
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Larry Rattner - larry@epfmedia.com