Skip to main content
Cesária Évora film image, director Ana Sofia Fonseca

Cesária Évora

This event has passed

Canadian Premiere

Ana Sofia Fonseca’s documentary about legendary Cape Verdean singer Cesária Évora reveals the complex woman behind the rich, deeply resonant voice that catapulted her to international fame at the age of 50. Using found archival film, historical photographs, old recordings, and concert footage, the film captures Évora’s incredible rise and does not turn away from her troubled childhood, decades of poverty, her struggles with drinking, and years-long bouts of depression. Instead, it presents these challenges with tenderness and care.

The film offers a rare glimpse into both her tragic and triumphant experiences, and features rare interviews with those closest to her. It also captures the singer’s mischievous humour, her love of Cabo Verde, her generosity to her community, and her extraordinary ability to translate emotion into melody. Masterfully edited and beautifully shot, the film is anchored in Évora’s morna songs, and the beautiful and melancholic landscape of her home island of São Vicente in Cabo Verde. Fascinating for both devotees and those discovering her for the very first time.

 

Media Partner

Stir Logo

Community Partner

Director
Credits
Country of Origin

Portugal

Year

2022

Language

In English, French, Portuguese, and Creole with English subtitles

Film Contact
Links
18+
94 min
Art, Music & Photography Documentary Women Directors

Book Tickets

This event has passed.

Missing VIFF? Check out what’s playing at the VIFF Centre

The Great Bear Rainforest + Secrets of the Sea

Originally released exclusively to IMAX theatres, we are pleased to share two outstanding 40-minute nature documentaries for family audiences, including the BC-shot Great Bear Rainforest, narrated by Ryan Reynolds.

VIFF Centre - Studio Theatre

It's Raining Men

Reuniting writer-director Caroline Vignal and star Laure Calamy from 2020's My Donkey, My Lover and Me, It's Raining Men is the tale of a frustrated wife and mother, neglected by her workaholic husband, discovering the wondrous new world of dating apps.

VIFF Centre - Vancity Theatre VIFF Centre - Studio Theatre

Suzume

The latest from the director of Your Name is a typically wacky mix of first love/coming-of-age tale, supernatural spectacle, environmental fable and adventure film, too complex to attempt to summarize, but never less than dazzling to look at.

VIFF Centre - Studio Theatre

Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus

Filmed across a week at his home just a few months before he died from cancer, this simple, pensive, poignant concert film comprises 20 pieces selected and performed by Ryuichi Sakamoto, and spans a lifetime of composition and artistry.

VIFF Centre - Vancity Theatre VIFF Centre - Studio Theatre

Inxeba

In South Africa's Xhosa culture, young men are brought to the mountains of the Eastern Cape to participate in an ancient coming-of-age ritual... but for Kwanda, his queer identity is at odds with social expectations.

VIFF Centre - Studio Theatre

Club Zero

A boarding school nutritionist (Mia Wasikowska) leads her charges down the path of "conscious eating" in this funny and disturbing satire from art-house director Jessica Hausner.

VIFF Centre - Vancity Theatre VIFF Centre - Studio Theatre

Credits

Executive Producer

Ana Sofia Fonseca

Producer

Ana Sofia Fonseca, Irina Calado

Cinematography

Vasco Viana

Editor

Cláudia Rita Oliveira

Director

Ana Sofia Fonseca headshot, Cesária Évora director

Ana Sofia Fonseca

Ana Sofia Fonseca is a natural storyteller. Born in Portugal, she lives with one foot in her home country and the other in Cabo Verde—she has a house two steps away from Cesária’s house. Évora is her second feature-length documentary, following an award-winning 20 year career in journalism, in which she worked on over 20 television documentaries, and published five nonfiction books and a novel. For years, she has dedicated herself to telling compelling stories with a focus on human rights themes—particularly stories about women rights and race issues.

Filmography: Setembro a vida inteira (2018)