Filmmaker Nathaniel Connella said he was indeed a “little proud” with the overwhelming response for his first film, titled, ‘MOROCCO’. The freelance film director and editor behind Tipsy Gypsies (a travel blog he runs with his wife Marta) had spent the summer of 2016 in Morocco, and his journey made it to “Staff Pick” on Vimeo in no time. We anxiously awaited its successor, and our patience now has been rewarded.
The follow-up to ‘MOROCCO’ takes viewers on a journey to one of the highest and least populated regions in the world, located in the Indian Himalayas. Connella captured the area’s beauty and magnificence and witnessed the incredibly rare celebration and arrival of his Holiness the High Lama to the small town of Mudh for the first time during “this life’s incarnation.”
The Tipsy Gypsies consider themselves to have been very fortunate to be passing through the village of Mudh at the time of the festivities. “It had been over 50 years,” Connella explains. The film lets viewers witness some preparations, like the corralling of the yaks, along with the costumes, singing and unfolding celebrations.
This film was made for and inspired by Connella’s father, who passed away last year. While battling cancer, he told his son he would join him on his trip to the Himalayas if he ever got better. Sadly, it didn’t pan out, but Connella stayed true to his father’s wishes and brought his ashes with him on his trip to spread them in the Himalayas, and then dedicated his time to making this film for his father.
It’s almost impossible for me to believe that it’s been a year since I’ve last spoken to my dad. He was such a burning light of inspiration to me. One of the most passionate, enthusiastic people I’ve ever known. He was going to travel to the Himalayas with me, and it makes me so angry that this will never happen. But I’ve tried to do what I can with those feelings and turn them into something positive.
Connella and his wife have been in India for nearly six months now but their trip is coming to an end. They will soon move to other countries for more filming and more adventures. All of their experiences can be found at on their website, Facebook, and Instagram.
