Cesária Évora grew up in extreme poverty and spent decades earning a living by singing in local bars until, at the age of fifty, she suddenly achieved extraordinary fame. She brought the genre of morna—the traditional music of the Cape Verde Islands, steeped in melancholy, longing, and “sodade”—to the world music stage. But wealth and fame did not change her; she remained free and independent. Using previously unseen archival footage and exclusive interviews with her loved ones, this documentary weaves an intimate portrait of the “barefoot diva.” Audience Award at the IndieLisboa Festival.

“I realized ten years ago, the day after her funeral, that a film had to be made about this incredible African woman. I was standing in front of my house [a few steps from Cesária’s] and saw the sadness in people’s eyes. I thought to myself: how many films are there about a Black woman over fifty living in Africa who became an international icon and transformed her country? And how did a poor, elderly, and overweight Black woman manage to make a name for herself in an industry obsessed with beauty and youth? As a journalist for twenty years, I’ve been telling stories about people, especially women—often African women. Cesária is the perfect story—about a woman who defied her fate and overcame all prejudices. /…/ When I started shooting the film, I’d already heard a lot about her. But in the intimate footage, I discovered a woman who was very aware of what was happening around her. /…/ I realized she had a truly strong social conscience. And I learned that she made her own decisions about her career. /…/ She knew exactly what she was doing. Although she wasn’t familiar with the terms ‘women’s empowerment’ or ‘social consciousness,’ she embodied both in her very nature. /…/ She fought against prejudice through the way she lived her life.” – Ana Sofia Fonseca

In collaboration with the traveling cinema Kino Istra – Cinema Istria and the international film festival Kino Otok – Isola Cinema.