SYNOPSIS
António Variações was a unique man. He was born in a small village in Amares, in the north of Portugal. At an early age, unhappy with his life working at a local factory, he came to Lisbon to stay with some relatives. But he was different and he wanted more. He wanted to travel and see the world and he emigrated, starting to work as a barber. But his love for music and performance was so strong that he came back so he could sing in his own language, even if with his looks and outfits he was a victim of prejudice. And even without knowing anything about music he fought for his right to do it the way he believed it was best. Variações – Guardian Angel is a story about music and about fighting for what we believe.
DIRECTOR
Director and Screenwriter. Born in Portugal, live in New York. In 1990 João Maia completed his licentiateship (B.Sc) in Applied Mathematics and Statistics, in Universidade Autonoma de Lisboa and three years later completed his filmmaking course in the New York Film Academy. Worked as assistant director between 1994 and 1998 and directed several music videos, TV commercials and series. In 2015 he wrote and directed the documentary The 30th Years of The American Institute of Wine and Food. In 2008 he directed two TV feature films for the TVI Portugal: Music Box and Life in Pieces. In 2006 he realized the short film Coming Home. Between 1997 and 2002 he directed more short films, including Trauma and The Nail (Cannes Critics’Week). Variações is his first feature film.
