Cinema
Fado: Story of a Singer
Fado, História d'uma Cantadeira
Perdigão Queiroga · 1947
Synopsis
Alfama. Ana Maria sings fado in a house in the neighbourhood, one evening, for the first time in front of an audience, and both public and critics at once sing her praises. Everything then moves very fast: the theatre, an impresario, tours, new friends, young bohemians or gentlemen rich enough to launch her. Júlio, the guitarist she has loved all along and who is a carpenter by day, feels betrayed and talks of sailing for Africa.
Context
The film was launched in haste after the success of Capas Negras, released the same year with the same performer, and was a second commercial triumph for her. The production presented it as almost the life of the actress; Amália did not much like the film, whose dialogues and situations she found artificial, and said she recognised only two features of her life in it: she had married a guitarist and sold fruit. The film also makes fado a national song, whereas the genre had been born in the taverns and brothels of Lisbon. It is its director's first film.
Who it is for
A musical melodrama in black and white, in Portuguese, close to two hours. The fados sung on screen carry the film as much as the story does.
Prizes and reception
One of the greatest box-office successes of Portuguese cinema; it earned Amália a best actress prize in 1949 and remains tied to her memory as an actress.
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