email print share on Facebook share on Twitter share on LinkedIn share on reddit pin on Pinterest

RELEASES Portugal

Amália: Biopic on fado icon enjoys large release

by 

Today sees the release of Amália, the anticipated biopic on fado diva Amália Rodrigues, directed by Carlos Coelho da Silva (The Crime of Father Amaro [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
). Based on the life of a personality who very much lives on in the collective memory of Portugal and with an unusually large distribution for a local production, Amália is expected to become the biggest domestic box office hit of 2008.

Produced by Manuel S. Fonseca, whose ambition it was to make a Portuguese version of French hit La Vie en Rose [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
, Amália is the first film to come from the newly founded VC Filmes. It is also, according to Fonseca, a synthesis of the company's philosophy. "It is our declaration of principals. This is the kind of cinema we aim to produce: narrative-oriented and with strong audience appeal," he said.

(The article continues below - Commercial information)

VC Filmes is also handling local distribution and international sales of Amália.

Co-written by Pedro Marta Santos and João Tordo, the film begins in New York in 1984, with Rodrigues thinking of committing suicide, to then travel back to her poor childhood in Lisbon and to her internationally recognised career.

The cast includes the popular Ricardo Carriço, Ricardo Pereira, Carla Chambel and Ana Padrão, who flank newcomer Sandra Barata Belo in the lead.

Other European titles reaching Portuguese screens this week are Steve McQueen's debut Hunger [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Laura Hastings-Smith Rob…
interview: Steve McQueen
film profile
]
(distribution: Lusomundo) and French-Lebanese documentary Je veux voir [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
by Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige (Atalanta).

(The article continues below - Commercial information)

Did you enjoy reading this article? Please subscribe to our newsletter to receive more stories like this directly in your inbox.

Privacy Policy