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Movie Info & Details
Release Year1999
Runtime1h 50m
LanguagePortuguese
CertificationNR
GenresDrama
Votes5
DirectorLeão Lopes
WritersJosé Fanha, Leão Lopes
TypeFeature Film
Rating6.0 out of 10
Cast10 credited
Also Known AsThe Island of Contenda
About The Island of Contenda
Cape Verde, 1964. At the feet of a mighty volcano, the traditional Cape Verdean society is undergoing a steady change. The old land-owning aristocracy is disintegrating. A class of "mulattos" begins to emerge, with a trade-based financial power that threatens the landlords. A new identity arises, a mix of old and new, of African and Portuguese culture, sensual and dynamic. The songs of Cesária Évora follow this inevitable transformation. From the novel by Henrique Teixeira de Sousa.
Directed by Leão Lopes, The Island of Contenda leans on a strong ensemble — João Lourenço, Luísa Cruz, Fernanda Alves — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.
The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 1999.
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