Fados (***)

Another performance film from Spanish director Carlos Saura (Tango), this celebrates the Portuguese genre of fado. For those who haven’t heard it, fado sounds something like a (mostly) quieter version of flamenco. There are some variations, even a pretty-decent hip-hop one, but most of the numbers are ballads, so if you’re new to the music it might start to sound samey after 90 minutes. Some interview segments with the performers or more insight into the history of fado, which dates to before recordings, would have been welcome. However, there is no disputing the top-notch performances by fado stars old (including Amália Rodrigues, appearing in archival footage) and new (Camané, Mariza, etc.), and international stars of the Portuguese diaspora such as Cape Verdé’s Cesária Évora and Brazil’s Caetano Veloso and Chico Buarque. Traditionally, fado involves a guitar and voice, but there are many variations here: piano, accordion, orchestra, and so on. The translated lyrics are mostly of love, and some of fado itself. As for the visuals, Saura mostly has filmed his musicians on sound stages with dancers acting out most of the songs.

IMDB link

viewed 4/13/08; reviewed 4/27/08; screened at Philadelphia Film Festival