Fados (2007)

Directed by

Carlos Saura

Genre

documentary film, musical film

Country

Portugal, Spain

Runtime

1h 30m

Rating

7.0 of 10 from 17 voters

Elsewhere

IMDb

How it feels

This documentary weaves song, dance and instrumentals to tell the story of fado, Portugal's signature musical style. Directed by Carlos Saura, the film honors classic fado singers while incorporating modern performers and musical influences from former colonies.

melancholicvisually lushcelebratoryculturally richmusicalelegantreflectivelively

What happens

Fados is a 2007 Portuguese film directed by Carlos Saura. The film, a fusion of cinema, song, dance and instrumental numbers, explores Portugal's most emblematic musical genre, fado, and its spirit of saudade (melancholy). Under the musical supervision of Carlos do Carmo, Fados completed Saura's musical trilogy form with Flamenco (1995) and Tango (1998). Saura deploys mirrors, back projections, lighting effects, and lush colors to frame each song. Fados contains homages to Maria Severa, Alfredo Marceneiro, and Amália Rodrigues, as well as turns by modern stars like Mariza and Camané. Saura expands the songs (which traditionally involve just a singer and a guitarist) with dance and encompasses other nationalities of Portugal's former colonies and idioms (such as hip hop, flamenco and reggae). (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

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