Some of the most interesting scenes in the film are during Dave's childhood, when he helps his mother steal diamonds from an upscale jewelry store. Throughout, he is a reluctant gypsy. He and his sister, played by a young Brook Shields, are never sent to school, never learn to read and write. As he matures, he has some important choices to make. The film moves swiftly, from beginning to end. There was action, violence, and a sense of the special kind of families that gypsies have. They live outside of the mainstream of society and have their own special rituals and rules. It was an education for me. Here there is music, dancing, partying. Here there are customs that are in direct opposition to the law. There is comedy, conflict, and tension throughout. But yet the family ties and love shine through.