The local Portuguese community
– and film buffs interested in the Azores – can now enjoy a new
documentary called Saudade; A Return to the Azores.
The local Portuguese community – and film buffs interested in the Azores – can now enjoy a new documentary called Saudade; A Return to the Azores.
Night Owl Film and Video of Morgan Hill announced recently the release of the first-of-its-kind documentary. Though the video was made with the audience of Portuguese immigrants and their descendants in mind, it is a video anyone with a general interest in the Azores will enjoy.
Many Americans only recently became aware of the small group of mid-Atlantic islands known as the Azores, which lie between the United States and Portugal, when President Bush met there with British Prime Minister Tony Blair weeks before beginning the war in Iraq.
But for tens of thousands of Portuguese immigrants from the Azores, and descendants of those from the islands, it was nice to finally see their beloved islands on the map.
Night Owl Film and Video has been working to provide greater insight into the islands and explore the interesting history of Azoreans. The team professionally produced the video and just released it in English and Portuguese. The 40-minute documentary blends information on history, how modernization has changed the islands of today, migration from the islands, and immigrants returning to the Azores. In addition, the video looks at how immigrants keep cultural ties strong in their new homeland.
California has a long affinity with the Portuguese, from the first documented European in California – Juan Rodrigues Cabrilho in 1542 – to large-scale 19th century migration to cities and towns primarily throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and Central Valley, and ending with the last large migration wave running through the 1970’s. Other settlements in California include the South Valley and San Diego areas, plus Hawaii, New England and Eastern Canada.
Saudade; A Return to the Azores includes broadcast quality digital video images of the islands set to the music of Portuguese musicians Ana Maria and Tony Parente of California. The video provides a good blend of information and imagery to give a good sense of the nature of the islands today and a look at the story of Portuguese-Azorean immigrants.
“I think its one of the best English-language films I’ve seen about the Azores,” said Gilda Bettencourt of the Portuguese Trade and Tourism Commission.
The documentary was written by first-generation Portuguese-American Christina Avila-Nores, a Morgan Hill native, who produced the video with her partner, Thomas Nores who shot and edited the project.
“I saw there was a story to be told, and it was a story I thought many people would appreciate,” said Avila-Nores. “Also, I hadn’t come across any high quality video that I felt really captured the beauty of the islands in this way.”
The narrator and host of the video is Renee Cunha, also a first-generation Portuguese-American, who has a degree in Radio, Television, Film and Theater from San Jose State University. Yet another first-generation Portuguese-American, Ercilia Medeiros, contributed by working on the artwork for the cover of the video.
Avila-Nores adds, “It was really important to me to make something that would interest every generation. Whether a person came from the islands, or their parents, grandparents, or even great-grandparents did, I think this project has something to offer them.”
Copies of the documentary Saudade; A Return to the Azores are available by sending $19.95 plus $4 shipping and handling (for each) to: Night Owl Film and Video; 15650A Vineyard Blvd. #170; Morgan Hill, CA 95037, or by visiting www.AzoresVideo.com. If ordering by mail, please include your mailing address and specify which language you would like, English or Portuguese. Allow two weeks for delivery. Details: (510) 352-6950.
