Variações

If it were for the acting, the photography, the custome design and the sets this movie would be a 10/10. It starts brilliantly, the beginning gives us hope of learning who António is, however it quickly becomes shallow. The character development just isn't there, the characters never come to life. The basic question of how Antonio Ribeiro became Variações is never answered, this movie was saved from being a let down by the actors.

Almost 2 hours about an one of the most important rock musicians of Portugal and you get more a hart listening singing of the actor than the getting famous context in the Portuguese society which could be more interesting for the not-knowing audience. The actors are good (except the solo singing parts) but the propose stays unclear.

The film is a great biopic even when don't "explain" the sickness of Variações, but, for me, it was the best portuguese production and I also loved Sérgio Praia's performance. The scenarios and the "closet" are amazing and it shows why Variações unfortunately took time to be recognized in those times. (Sorry for my english). Good Movies for all :)

The movie is good. The plot has some holes, the screenplay is a bit cheesy but i enjoyed it. I would've liked to see his persona and love life explored more deeply and some curiosities like how he got the name Variações or how he died and the drama/trauma around it. Maybe i'm one of the few who didn't know a lot of his life and would like to see it explored. Didn't know the main actor but i really liked his work and clearly a lot of preparation into making this movie. Congratulations to all envolved! Overall a very good movie, mostly because of the well-known and iconic songs. I can even see a similarity between António Variações and Freddie Mercury, both iconic misunderstood figures of the world/portugal, who suffered a lot to get where they were.

I was positively impressed with João Maia's film and, above all, with the way Sérgio Praia incarnates the character of António. There were moments when real footage of the time was interposed and I was so much immersed in the actor's performance, that I could not tell which was which.

Afore going, I had seen some negative critiques, namely from the actual singer's brother, who claimed the film focused too much on the homossexual issue and less on the artist's career. I couldn't disagree more, for two reasons.

First, it is simply not true. The film focus mainly on the creative genius of the artist and his internal agony to create his art.

Second, yes, there is some attention brought on his love relationships, especially the one with Fernando Ataíde, but notice this: it's a biographic picture and sexuality is a central aspect in anyone's life - it is only natural that, in a film about the artist's life, some importance is given to his more fleshly passions. Furthermore, we are talking about Portugal in the 70's and 80's, a time when homossexuality was much more than a mere personal detail.

What I found to be missing in the film was any significant reference to the period António Ribeiro was in the war in Angola and his television debut by the tv host Júlio Isidro.