Kristian Novak Gypsy, Yet So Handsome

The protagonists of Novak’s brilliant novel make up an incredible and masterfully fictionalized gallery of characters that we find reflected in contemporary fears. A young Romany man Sandokan, aka Sandi, falls in love with Milena from Međimurje, a white woman from the neighboring village of Sabolščak. Divorced and in her late forties, she has been unfairly fired at work and returns to her childhood home, where she must take care of her stubborn grandfather. Nuzat, a Kurd from Mosul, has left his family and his country that is ravaged by war, and is in search of a better life in Calais. Plančić, the Zagreb Police Department PR, has been sent to the field and instructed to cover up a murder that could explode into great violence and a major political scandal. A Croatian Homeland War veteran keeps a fragile peace in the village, and a policeman in the twilight of his career is obsessed with visions akin to those from the apocalyptic TV show The Leftovers. These unconventional antiheroes are not stereotypical representatives of their ethnic or social group; they are noble outsiders whose behavior defies stereotypes, as they empathetically challenge the prejudices society holds about them. The novel's enormous theatrical potential lies, above all, in the author's lavish style, composed of elements of crime, melodrama, documentary material, social drama and elements of popular (sub)culture, including Romany songs, the most famous being the one of the novel's title. The play was exceptionally successful with both audiences and critics.

'Ciganin, ali najljepši': Jedna od najsmjelijih ljubavnih priča suvremenog hrvatskog teatra.— Tportal

The mere fact of bringing to life a gallery of different characters who bit by bit fight various prejudices makes this production a great artistic success.— Novi list

Nina Violić is brilliant. The young Filip Vidović is just as good, despite this being his first time performing on the CNT's stage.— Večernji list