Singoalla (film)

Singoalla is a 1949 Swedish–French film directed by Christian-Jaque, starring Viveca Lindfors and Alf Kjellin. It is based on the romantic novel The Wind Is My Lover by Viktor Rydberg, which in turn is based on a medieval legend of the love between a Romani woman and a nobleman. It was produced in three language versions: Swedish, French, and English. The Swedish and French versions were entitled Singoalla. The English version had three titles: Gypsy Fury (USA), The Wind is My Lover (UK), and The Mask and the Sword (UK). The Swedish and English versions starred Alf Kjellin as the nobleman, but the French version starred Michel Auclair. All three versions were edited separately – even scoring is slightly different. The Swedish and French run over 100 minutes, the English only 63 minutes.

Cast

 * Viveca Lindfors as Singoalla
 * Alf Kjellin (aka Christopher Kent) as Knight Erland Månesköld - Swedish and English versions
 * Michel Auclair as Knight Erland Månesköld - French version
 * Edvin Adolphson as Latzo
 * Lauritz Falk as Assim
 * Naima Wifstrand as Cioara
 * John Elfström as Erasmus
 * Märta Dorff as Elfrida Månesköld
 * Vibeke Falk as Helena Ulfsax
 * Georg Funkquist as Chaplain
 * Jean Georges Chambot (aka Johnny Chambot) as Sorgbarn
 * Katarina Taikon as Gypsy Woman (uncredited)

Depiction of the Romani People
Singoalla stereotypically depicts the Romani People as being uncivilised thieves. The film hired many real Romani actors, among them was Katarina Taikon, who later became a civil rights leader and writer. After the film was released, the Romani actors expressed regret about having participated in a racist movie.