Vitalina Varela

Vitalina Varela is a 2019 feature-length film directed by one of Portuguese cinema's most foremost stalwarts, Pedro Costa. The leading roles are played by non-professionals Vitalina Varela herself, Ventura, and Manuel Tavares Almeida. This unconventional casting provides a raw authenticity to the narrative mirroring the director's unique filmmaking approach.

Varela is no stranger to Costa's work, having previously appeared in his film 'Horse Money.' However, in this film, she emerges from the periphery to take center stage and offers an intense performance evoking the tragedies and endurance of the human spirit. Her own life serves as the inspiration for the film; her story is blurring the line between true events and artistic interpretation.

The film opens with Vitalina's arrival in Portugal from her homeland, Cape Verde, only to learn on the tarmac that her estranged husband had passed away three days prior. She hardly stops to absorb that crushing blow as she navigates through the unfamiliar streets of a destitute Lisbon neighborhood inhabited mainly by Cape Verdean immigrants. In Costa's form, the film is a moving exploration of mourning and spiritual bereavement as she processes her husband's death, which takes form in conversations with his apparition, beginning her own journey of self-discovery and healing.

Veteran actor Ventura appears in the film as a retired construction worker and the neighborhood's de facto spiritual leader. He offers up sermons in the solitude of his home, fighting his battles with the demons from his past and his failings. Ventura’s role provides a poignant juxtaposition to Varela’s journey, bridging the gap between the past and the present, reality, and dreams.

Manuel Tavares Almeida also delivers a noteworthy performance, creating an overall ensemble of characters that are just as integral to the film's narrative as its storyline. Their performances create a narrative canvas where the unsaid speaks volumes about their experiences.

Unlike conventional films, Vitalina Varela does not rely on explicit dialogue or dramatic action to carry its story forward. Instead, it is the silent frames, the lingering camera, and the atmospheric tones that convey the emotions and the underlying narrative. The film is a symphony of grief, resilience, and contemplation that pulses with authenticity, intensified by the beautiful cinematography and the evocative musical score.

Vitalina Varela’s cinematography is a character in its own right, capturing the stark contrast between the harsh reality of the Lisbon slums and the resilient spirit of its inhabitants. Each scene is meticulously composed like a painting, with Costa’s signature use of chiaroscuro – the interplay between light and shadow – enhancing the narrative’s emotive impact. This approach, combined with minimal sound design, results in a uniquely immersive viewing experience that lingers long after the credits roll.

The film's narrative structure may initially seem disjointed, the pacing slow, but this is Costa’s hallmark - immersing the viewer deeply into each onscreen moment to reflect on the raw human emotions displayed, often wordlessly. The slow, deliberate pacing allows the audience to empathetically connect with the characters, feel their internal struggles, and contemplate the meaning of existence and the power of perseverance.

As much as it is about loss, Vitalina Varela also invokes the bigger themes of displacement, the immigrant experience, and the diaspora's longing for home, presenting them through subtle symbols and metaphors. The claustrophobic alleys, the semi-abandoned homes, and the dilapidated buildings not only reflect the characters' physical circumstances but also resonate with their internal struggles, regrets, and dreams.

In a nutshell, Vitalina Varela is an intensely immersive cinematic experience that nudges the viewers to go beyond the surface, to feel and experience the characters' emotional depth, and to contemplate the universality of human suffering and resilience. Pedro Costa’s unique directorial vision and the engaging performances of the cast make this film a compelling exploration of life, loss, and the human spirit's indefatigable resilience.