O Testamento do Senhor Napumoceno (1997) aka Testamento

When Senhor Napumoceno, Cape Verde's most well-loved citizen, dies of old age, his nephew Carlos expects to inherent his vast fortune and import/export business. Instead, however, it all goes to Graça, the child of an affair between Napumoceno and his housekeeper. All her life Graça had believed her father to just be some dirty old man, but when she discovers his true identity, she becomes enchanted by his life story that is told to her through recordings he made for her, and the tales of his closest friends. The story of Senhor Napumoceno is one that spans the decades, it is full of intrigue and romance, and has the sweep of a Hollywood production. Produced by, and shot in Cape Verde, Testamento boasts some luscious visuals and beautiful scenery. However, this is not a particularly great film, and while it is entertaining and engaging, there are a lot of missed opportunities. The history of Cape Verde during the second half of the twentieth century was one marked by political upheaval as national liberation movements fought for independence against the fascist Portuguese state. By failing to connect the politics and history with the personal, director Francisco Manso missed the opportunity to create a truly stirring epic. There are also various plot threads that fizzle out into nothing, and the pacing is rather uneven. Ultimately, we are left with a film that is more of a what-could-have-been.