Documentary series

The statues of the Saintes I.

The small French seaside town of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer holds one of the most important religious gypsy festivals every year on May 24th and 25th. Hundreds and thousands of Gypsies, Travelers, Roma and Gypsies flock to the handful of streets in the Provençal port city to celebrate the patron saint of Gypsies, Sara-la-Kali or Saint Sarah.

The half-gypsy Sophie took part in the event for the first time. Sophie was not raised as a gypsy, and all her life she felt that she was missing something, the gypsy self. The grandmother was taken by the Nazis and escaped from Porrajmos. His family decided to abandon their French gypsy name, Limberger, to protect the younger generations, and his father denied their gypsy identity.

"Sara-La-Kali"

During the two days long religious festival, aspects of the life of St. Sarah are replayed: her dressed-up wooden statue is taken out of the 9th-century fortified church, and a long procession

carries it to the sea, where the statue is ritualistically dipped into the seawater. Around the statue, the crowd become tumultuous as pilgrims try to touch the statue of the Saint and gain her blessing.

"I see my father's gypsy soul everywhere"

Sophie Courgey attended the festival for the first time in her life. Her gypsy father had only passed away recently. Their gypsy identity was always taboo in their family. A taboo she decided to break by attending the festival to get closer to her father's gypsy soul.

The chosen one I.

Young Gypsy boy - he is one of the chosen ones who can carry the holy flag.

Beauty I.

Flower installation inside the church.

Face-to-face with St Sarah

Sophie was born in Paris and lived in Angola and Bolivia for years, but she never felt that she had found her place. She has been married twice and has tree children.

The cure

Many pilgrims take their sick relatives to Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, hoping their symptoms improve. Families often return year after year to strengthen their bond with St Sarah.

Beauty II.

Young Gypsy girl in the procession

Rituals

The procession marches through the narrow cobbled streets of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer.

The chosen one II.

The crowd watches as the statues emerge from the church and start their long journey to the sea.

The Legend

According to legends, after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, three of his followers, called the Three Marys, trying to escape from the persecution of the Romans, arrived on the shores of

Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. Depending on the versions told, Sara-la-Kali was either a servant of the Marys who was also cast adrift or a Gypsy woman living in the area who welcomed them

ashore.

"I hope is not too late to became Gypsy"

"My father wanted to protect me by not educating me to be a Gypsy. But I always missed belonging to somewhere, to be something, to be a Gypsy"

Saints Mary Jacobe and Mary Salome

Many pilgrims came to see the relics of the saints to gain forgiveness or seek some cure for their sickness.

Bless

From the board of a traditional fisher's boat, the Bishop of Arles blesses the sea, the region, the pilgrims and the Gypsies.

Around the waves

While photographers were trying to get their best shots, pilgrims sought the last touch from the Patron Saint of the Gypsies. The moment of the ritualist dip is highly tense; people often fall into the cold sea or are pushed into it if they are not careful.

The Gitans

Local women were attending the festival in their traditional dresses.

The chosen one III.

The statue of Saint Sarah emerges from the water.

A spiritual journey

Sophie was exhausted from the spiritual experiences. A search for identity has accompanied her whole life. She commented that maybe her search was over and had found herself here, at the Provencal shores.

Being soaked

The crowd returns from the sea in wet clothes and shoes.

The chosen one IV.

As she passed a short prayer to herself in front of the wooden box of St Sarah's statue, Sophie reflected on her search for identity. She wondered how her grandmother was taken by the Nazis and escaped from the Porrajmos to find herself in a world still hostile to gypsies and Roma people. She wondered how their family decided to drop their French gypsy name, Limberger, to protect the younger generations and how his father denied their identity. Standing close to Saint Sarah, all these traumas seemed so far in the distance. She was finally in the right place.

The town

Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer after the pilgrims leave

The statues of the Saintes II.

The statues are placed back in the church, waiting for next year's festival.

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