Variações: Guardian Angel (2019) User Reviews

One of the best portuguese movies ever, but...

[pedroquintaoo · 7/10 · 22 August 2019]

I was expecting more. I mean, sometimes the plot of Variações is shallow. I finished this film without knowing anything new about this great artist. The movie shows us just the fight of António to be a singer and one important relationship in his life, however never goes too far and it's afraid of explore the deepest points of his life and personality. However the cinematography, the scenarios and the "clothes" are incredible, it portrays very well the portuguese culture during the 70s/80s. I also loved Sérgio Praia's performance, he's amazing and I hope to watch him in more great productions.

It's not perfect, but is the movie that Portugal needs to show to the world how we can also do great films, we just need dedication and passion as a lot of people from this crew had.

The Portuguese version of Mercury

[MovieJunkie5 · 7/10 · 26 August 2019]

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.

A great performance

[luciuspapyrius · 8/10 · 23 August 2019]

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.

Good but I was expecting more

[eva_dias_ferreira · 7/10 · 28 August 2019]

When entering the movie, I didn't know much about António Variações besides the great artist he was and his unique way of dressing. The movie shows his biography in a superficial way and focus more on the music he wrote. In my opinion, it should be more balanced with his personal life, tastes, way of thinking and feelings. Also, the movie doesn't explain how he got "Variações" since his name is António Ribeiro. I enjoyed the way they recorded and the work of the main actor, but I simply feel the need, after seeing this movie, to search more about Variações, some things that the movie couldn't explain. However, it is nice to see that there are more options in the cinema besides the same and usual movies, specially in portuguese with this quality.

A great surprise

[mariana-almeida-garcia · 9/10 · 22 August 2019]

The main actor did a great job. It's very impressive how he could dive in to the character. It looked just like the real person. All the clothes and sets are so good. It's amazing.

A breath of fresh air for the Portuguese cinema.

[xixinhora · 6/10 · 30 August 2019]

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.

"Variações" is a love letter to Portuguese cinema

[CinemaAmazing · 9/10 · 25 August 2019]

Portuguese cinema had a great evolution in this decade. Movies such as "La Cage Dorée", "Blood of My Blood", "Parque Mayer" or "Jogo de Damas" are some of the films that prove it. "Variações" joins this list and brings something new that few films bring with them: a love letter to the cinema. Although the budget in Portugal is small it is amazing how they can create films of this large size. João Maia was fantastic as a director as well as a screenwriter, the cinematography is very effective, a wardrobe that could have been better invested, but a great and fabulous makeup and hair styling. Sérgio Praia's performance is praiseworthy and deserves all the awards and a few more, I even dare to say that he should be the first Portuguese actor to compete for the Oscar nominations. Between "Parque Mayer" and "Variações" I don't know which one can compete for the nomination for Best Foreign Film at the Oscars. But one thing is for sure this movie will make our Portuguese people cry.

Portugal keeps on doing it

[thePopcornExplorer · 7/10 · 25 January 2021]

A continuously improvement on Portuguese cinema, glad to see the momentum!

I've made a review for Listen recently which came out after Variações, but regardless this just shows how the Portuguese cinema has been on a positive streak of great art work! Historically, Portuguese cinema hasn't been appreciated much on recent years, mostly by Portuguese audiences, the fact that Portuguese government doesn't give much incentives to culture and being hard to have high budget for movies might contribute to this idea, yet we have no lack of originality or great creative artists, as I mentioned on Listen which was probably the best Portuguese movie I've seen.

Now getting into this movie, Variações tells the story of a famous Portuguese singer back in the 80s, known for his eccentric behavior and looks, but also for his inspiring and creative music, he became an icon in the country even though his career was very short due to his tragic death, who most likely was caused by HIV, however due to the stigma that society places on such disease, to this day it is unclear if this was actually the cause.

From the movie we can see how music inspired his life and give him fuel to pursue his dreams, it's because he kept true to himself that people were drawn to him, he wasn't a conventional individual and didn't had much studies in music, however he had this drive to perform and to sing and people wanted to hear him. The movie shows this, and the Sérgio's performance as António is really good, I do believe however that the movie could've expanded more on his life.

I understand that this was the approach the writer and director decided to go, focusing more on his passion and music, which is all right, however I was expecting a closer look to António's mind, his thoughts on the prejudice of the people, on how they perceived him, on his success and how he felt generally, in this field we got a bit of a superficial approach, we got the icon and his path to become an historical figure of our culture, but we lack the knowledge of the man.

Fantastic António Variações Biopic

[markko0690 · 10/10 · 28 August 2019]

Amazing biopic about António Variações a Portuguese brilliant "way ahead of is time" singer. In the late 70's early 80's Variações became famous 4 is peculiar looks, clothings dancing, voice and music which made him very misunderstood, in my opinion he was born Maybe 40/50 years too early.This is absolutely the Portuguese Freddie Mercury and Bohemian Rhapsody singer and movie. The story is well paced and compelling, telling a true story with some fictional characters and facts"for the sake of the dramatization" and some unproved theories. All in all a great job from everyone involved actors and director... Really loved it

Weak production

[sonekasd · 6/10 · 14 June 2020]

The movie has great caste but misses a lot of deatails on telling the story. The creator of portuguese pop musical deserves a better life story telled. Doesn't show the real transformation of a simple country boy to a icon of the portuguese music.

Best Portuguese Production!

[gonguitoz · 9/10 · 16 September 2019]

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 :)

Promising movie...lacked something

[susantos-84789 · 7/10 · 15 May 2021]

Growing up I listened to variações music all the time. I knew at the time he passed away and that was it. So when I saw this trailer I was curious to found out more about him. The movie seems pretty cool but I wish we had more content. They show him when he was young...but then I wish I knew more about it. Why did he emigrated? What happened? Also why did he die? I mean we know but I wish there was more explanation. I look at this movie like art...but at the same time I feel I needed more. It's a good watch if you know the songs it's just I feel like I still don't know much about him.

When you don't have an idea, you may just ruin a great character

[calvin-22455 · 4/10 · 26 August 2019]

Walking into this movie I was really hoping to learn more about the hairstylist who grew larger than life and became one of Portugal's biggest pop icons. Instead, I was forced into the indulgence of a director, who thought that showing a lot of unknown songs being sung without any orchestration for more than one hour was the way to go. There is no clear idea of what he wants to say, just random thoughts that he tries to blend together without any cohesion. Yes, Variações struggled until his music finally became "visible", but you never really get the idea that he was actually that famous or cherished in Portugal. There are no concerts (playing inside a disco doesn't count), and nothing that can lead you to have that idea. If the story had as much attention put to it as the costume design had, maybe this could have been a great movie.

Not my music but a good movie

[valadas · 7/10 · 24 August 2019]

Well yes it is a good movie though I don't particularly like that kind of music. But I realize that most song lyrics are enthusiastic and pleasant. This is the story of the Portuguese poprock singer Antonio Variações who had unfortunately a short career having died of AIDS while he was still young and having a top career being very much appreciated by a great number of fans. He was a barber that at a certain point in his life chose to become a pop singer due to his great talent at that. We can listen to some of his most famous songs and watch his demeanour while acting. if you appreciate poprock music you'll love thsi movie.

For the funds allocated to produce this movie, its a masterpiece.

[blastpato · 10/10 · 20 July 2020]

Superb acting from Sérgio praia, and still sings for the movie album. Variações its alive again and we cant tell the diference.

Mixed feelings

[pauloshdias · 6/10 · 8 August 2021]

An amazing interpretation of Sérgio Praia, I found the script to be ok. Although with a majof fault. It spends a lot of time showing the struggle to record with a major studio and, it ends up not explaining how he managed to get rid of that record company and (most of all) it never explains how he got the 'Variações' name. Where it came from? How does a biographical movie leaves this detail out?

Technically, I was far from impressed with the cinematography. Specially when he his youth place, the blown up lights in such a way that spoils any sharpness of the image was a very poor decision.

These details are the reason why I can't git it a better score.

Wrong singing and not clear propose

[jendakout · 5/10 · 3 November 2021]

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 favourite treat for those who are open-minded, a portuguese masterpiece

[goncalodiias · 28 April 2021]

I wouldn't consider myself a movie person. However, I have to admit that I was recently really impressed by a movie I saw while flying on vacation. I might even say this was one of the best movies I have ever seen. But what made this film so special?

The film in question is called António Variações, a story portraying the real-life scenarios that the artist who goes by the same name lived almost a century ago. His real name was António Ribeiro, a musician who was described by many critics as "much ahead of his time", so much so that his music still plays on the radio to this day.

It's normal to assume that, because he died many years ago, once the music started playing in the film's background, the spectator would almost instantly recognize the music but not the artist. But, by the end of the film, not only did I knew all his little life details, but I also built a deep connection and understanding of the lyrics in his songs.

Like me, I bet that all the viewers could connect to some extent to Antonio's work and life. This story had me so addicted, in fact, that I couldn't stop listening to Antonio's music during my vacation.

Overall, it's a well-crafted film that has one of the best soundtracks I have ever heard that touches an uncommon but nonetheless interesting topic. I would certainly recommend this masterpiece to anyone, especially if you enjoy music and culture, this could be a very eye-opening story.