This film tells the story of Orlando Pantera, a Cape Verdean musician and composer, a kind of ray of light, whose life was tragically cut short in 2001 at the age of 33. Despite his brief career, Pantera left a lasting impact on Cape Verdean music, reviving its Afro-rooted traditions, particularly from the island of Santiago, where he was born. Using archival materials shoot in 2000 by the filmmaker and following his daughter through a revisiting of places and memories, the film explores his legacy while also capturing unique musical performances set against Cape Verde’s tropical and rugged landscapes. Artists like Mayra Andrade and Princezito interpret his work, showing how his influence continues to shape contemporary capeverdian music. More than just a biography, this is a tribute to an artist who never became a star in his lifetime but remains a powerful symbol of Cape Verdean identity and culture.
Catarina Alves Costa is a Portuguese filmmaker and anthropologist. She’s a Professor at Nova University of Lisbon in the fields of Visual Anthropology and Film with a long career as an international filmmaker. She currently directs the Centre for Research in Anthropology, CRIA.
