VC kicks off with 'Amalia'

Film is biography of fado legend

By JOHN HOPEWELL

Portuguese production-distribution-sales house VC Filmes has plunged into its first feature, “Amalia,” a bio of fado legend Amalia Rodrigues.

Rolling in June, the bio takes Rodrigues’ life from poverty and abandonment as a child in the 1920s to near-instant fame singing fado, Portugal’s melancholic national song. Pic segues to family tragedy, shows in Las Vegas and Paris, unfortunate affairs, a brain tumor.

Young stage actress Sandra Barata Belo will play from early childhood to death in 1984.

VC aims to make at least two major movies targeting wide audiences each year, said “Amalia” producer Manuel Fonseca. “Amalia” will be co-produced by Portuguese pubcaster RTP.

Portugal is known — and admired in specialist circles —for left-of-field art fare (think Manoel de Oliveira, the subject of a Cannes tribute today) and micro-producers.

VC is part of the conglom Valentim de Carvahlo Group, whose tentacles stretch into music, TV production, studio facilities and multimedia. VC has launched a domestic distribution division, VC Multimedia. Unusual for Portugal, which lacks sales agencies, VC Multimedia will also handle international sales for VC-produced films.

Fica, a Portuguese investment fund for startup film/TV companies, has taken minority equity in VC. And Portuguese broadcasters are looking for event programming, be it film or TV.

Launched in April, VC Multimedia has picked up three movies for Portugal, including Paul Schrader’s “Adam Resurrected” and MK2’s “The Real Story of Puss ’n Boots.”