Fados

Fados completes the musical trilogy of award-winning Spanish director Carlos Saura's Flamenco (1995) and Oscar-nominated Tango (1998). Using Lisbon as a backdrop, he explores Portugal's most emblematic musical genre--fado. Tracing its African and Brazilian origins up to the new wave of modern fadistas, he ingeniously deploys mirrors, back projections, lighting effects, and lush colors to frame a collection of performances that survey a rich history of this art form. The result is a ravishing fusion of cinema, song, dance and instrumental numbers. Fados contains homages to such legends as Maria Severa and Amalia Rodrigues, as well as stunning turns by modern stars like Mariza and Camane; but Saura also expands the songs (which traditionally involve just a singer and a guitarist) with dance and encompasses other nationalities (with a special emphasis on performers of color from Portugal's former colonies) and idioms (such as hip hop, flamenco and reggae). Under the musical supervision of Carlos do Carmo, Fados features one of the finest world music soundtracks to date. (official distributor synopsis)