U.K., 52 minutes

Dir: Simon Broughton

It’s been called the Portuguese blues, and fado is now enjoying an extraordinary revival. Mariza, one of its most charismatic and celebrated divas, is the focus of this film that takes us on a journey through the art and soul of fado.  A specially-filmed concert of Mariza is interwoven with historical footage of famous fadistas such as Amalia Rodrigues, all set amidst the beautiful city of Lisbon, one of the historic centers of the genre.

“Fado is an urban Portuguese music. It's not folk music, it's a sort of blues. It grew up in Lisbon, and was a product of the Portuguese empire and its associations with Brazil and with Africa. I always say that music can be a window on the world, and you really can look at the history of Portugal in the 20th century through fado.”
- director Simon Broughton, interviewed by Craig Duncan for MOFFOM.

LEARN MORE: 

Read an article from The Guardian UK on fado, published in the lead-up to the U.K. premiere of Mariza and the Story of Fado.
Mariza’s official website features tour dates, reviews and music.

Visit High Point Films’ page.

Read Craig Duncan's interview with director Simon Broughton on the MOFFOM website.

About Doc-Debut
This film is part of Doc-Debut , a new regular series on Link TV highlighting unique and groundbreaking international documentary films. The series offers American audiences unprecedented perspectives on world events and culture, as seen through the eyes of individuals across the globe.