This 2019 Portuguese film chronicles the brief but massively influential musical career of singer Antonio Variações who died of AIDS related complications in 1984 but his music is still loved by the Portuguese.
As a young boy he listened to the soulful traditional music of Portugal and I don’t mean American soul music but music from the heart and soul that influenced his unique vocal talents whether it be pop, rock, punk or folk all of it is deeply soulful. Why not think of the film a sort of “Bohemian Rhapsody”.
Variações had the uncanny ability to appeal to a wide range of ages that perhaps Freddy Mercury never could command.
Variações was a barber with an eccentric dress style who never really strayed from the influence of his inspiration Amália Rodrigues and listen to one of her songs near the end of the film and you’ll immediately understand the soulfulness of her music and how it influenced Variações.
You can see the trailer here https://watch.eventive.org/euff2021/play/61535210b053a1004cb38e4d?m=1
The film was directed by Joäo Maia. Sérgio Praia portrays Variações convincingly.
The film plays between November 28-30 virtually. You can check out the Festival’s website at https://www.euffonline.ca/welcome
The film can only be accessed for the Festival in Canada.
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