"As Águas da Saudade" – produced at Comuna Studios in Lisbon – is inspired by the legend of Inês de Castro and King Pedro I of Portugal. This story is as old as the sea, as timeless as a black evening gown, and lives on in the Portuguese Fado tradition. The film, directed by Daniel Lathwesen for Kaltblut Magazine, is available for you on gosee.news.
The story of Inês de Castro and King Pedro I is Portugal's most famous and tragic love story – often referred to as the "Portuguese Romeo and Juliet."
Inês came to Portugal in 1340 as a lady-in-waiting to Pedro's wife, Constança. Pedro fell hopelessly in love with her. After Constança's death, Pedro lived openly with Inês and had children with her. This displeased the nobility, as Inês came from an influential Castilian family. Pedro's father, King Afonso IV, feared for Portugal's independence and had Inês murdered in 1355 at the Santa Clara-a-Velha Monastery in Coimbra by three noblemen.
Fado, a musical form that condenses longing, honor, and unrequited love into a gentle, timeless rhythm, keeps this love alive to this day. It conjures images that touch generations: the cloak of night, the golden rim of the crown, the restless blue of the sea, and the secret promise that began in royal halls and never truly faded.
The fashion film "As Águas da Saudade" transforms this into more than just a story: it weaves legend and haute couture in the form of contemporary silhouettes by Portuguese designers. Black dominates the night; gold plays with the contours of fleeting moments; red flickers like the heartbeat of passion. The fabrics bear witness to this: heavy velvet, delicate lace, impeccable cuts. Every seam tells a story of loyalty, honor, and the eternal question of what endures when the storm rages. And if, by chance, an eyebrow or two happens to stray from the line - that is entirely intentional.
"In this fusion of culture and haute couture, fashion becomes not merely clothing, but a poem in fabric: a visual ballad that makes saudade, deep longing, tangible. The narrative speaks of nation, memory, and a love that endures despite all obstacles—a timeless reminder that beauty always carries responsibility." - Daniel Lathwesen, Director.
The musical piece "As Águas da Saudade" primarily refers to a classic sertanejo song by Milionário & José Rico from 1975, which deals with unrequited love and deep longing. It is an emotional song considered a classic in the Brazilian music scene, speaking of loss, memories, and the landscape as a mirror of the soul.