Vitalina Varela is a Portuguese drama film directed by Pedro Costa. The film follows the life of Vitalina Varela, a Cape Verdean woman who arrives in Lisbon three days after her husband's funeral. She had been waiting for over 25 years to join her husband in Portugal, but due to bureaucratic obstacles, she wasn't able to join him until after his death.
Upon arriving in Lisbon, Vitalina discovers that her late husband had been living a double life and had another family. She confronts her husband's former friends and acquaintances, who offer her little comfort. She then sets out to renovate the house her husband had been building for them, using the knowledge he had taught her about construction.
Through the course of the film, viewers learn about Vitalina's past and the hardships she faced in Cape Verde. She reflects on her life and struggles to come to terms with her husband's infidelity and betrayal. The film is shot in richly textured black and white, and emphasizes the use of light and shadow to create a sense of mystery and depth.
Vitalina Varela premiered at the Locarno Film Festival in 2019 and was well-received by critics, who praised the film's beauty and emotional depth. It won the Golden Leopard award at the Locarno Film Festival, among other accolades. The film was released in theaters in the United States in 2020.