Inspired by a report published in 1985 on the kidnapping of one hundred children, all Roma, by Yugoslavs who sold them to Americans and Italians, Dom za vesanje is the story of an orphaned boy who leaves his home and falls prey to ruthless exploiters of children.
Perhan is an idealistic young man who is adept at telekinesis. He lives just outside of Skopje with his grandmother Hatidja, his uncle Merdjan and his sister Danira, who suffers from a bone disease. The film strongly emphasises the traditional values of Romani culture personified by the warm and caring grandmother whose healing powers are well known to the village. The main theme of the film is the punishment meted out by the spirits to Perhan when he moves away from these values. Perhan is in love with a village girl named Azra but his attempts to marry her are rejected by her stern mother because he lacks money, uncharacteristically placing material wealth over spiritual values.
Determined to be considered worthy of marrying Azra, Perhan is easy prey for Ahmed, a criminal originally from the village, who has become rich by selling children to Italians and forcing them to beg and steal for him. Ahmed comes to Perhan's grandmother for help for his dying son and, when she restores his son to health, demands that Ahmed pay for a much needed operation for Danira. After he vows to pay for an operation and brings Danira and Perhan to Ljubliana, Perhan soon discovers his true way of life when Ahmed stops to collect young people along the way. The message that what appears good may be hiding darker intent is symbolised by Danira's vision of the spirit of her dead mother who has come to warn her of impending evil.
At first unwilling to earn money dishonestly, Perhan soon discards his idealism for the pursuit of money and goes into business with Ahmed, recruiting children for sale and putting beggars to work collecting money. In the process, Perhan becomes as ruthless and unforgiving as Ahmed when, after Ahmed suffers a stroke, he takes over the business. As Perhan continues to reject the values of his culture, where survival rests upon the adherence to core Romani values, he moves further away from the balance and so his misfortunes multiply.
A hauntingly beautiful, tragic and cautionary tale, replete with Romani symbolism and powerful soundtrack music by Goran Bregovic, featuring Ederlezi, the Romani name for the Feast of St George.
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