“Vitalina Varela” is a 2019 Portuguese drama film directed by Pedro Costa. The film premiered at the Locarno Film Festival and received critical acclaim.
The movie follows Vitalina Varela, a Cape Verdean woman who arrives in Lisbon three days after her husband’s death. Her husband had left Cape Verde 25 years ago to work in Portugal, promising to send for her, but she never heard from him again until she received news of his death. Vitalina struggles to come to terms with her grief and reconcile with her husband’s past as she navigates through the unfamiliar territory of Lisbon’s slums.
The film has been praised for its stunning black-and-white cinematography and atmospheric use of light and shadows. Actress Vitalina Varela, who plays the titular character, delivers a powerful and nuanced performance that conveys a sense of profound loss and longing.
“Vitalina Varela” has won several awards, including the Golden Leopard for Best Film and the Best Actress award for Varela at the Locarno Film Festival. The movie has also received critical acclaim and has been included in several top 10 lists of the best films of 2019.
| Directed by | Pedro Costa |
|---|---|
| Produced by | Abel Ribeiro Chaves |
| Written by | Pedro Costa Vitalina Varela |
| Starring | Vitalina Varela, Ventura, |
| Cinematography | Leonardo Simões |
| Edited by | Vítor Carvalho João Dias |
| Release date | 14 August 2019 (LFF) |
| Running time | 124 minutes |
| Country | Portugal |
| Languages | Cape Verdean Creole Portuguese |
| Budget | €600,000 |
| Box office | $55,183 |
