A new film explores the birth and evolution of rave culture in Portugal

A new film is exploring the birth of rave culture in Portugal in the early '90s and its evolution.

Titled Underground house music from a paradise called Portugal, it’s directed by Daniel Mota and features interviews with DJs, producers, dancers, and promoters associated with that nascent scene, as well as previously unseen archival footage, telling its story and impact.

Among the people featured are Rui da Silva, known for progressive house classic ‘Touch Me’, and American house DJ Danny Tenaglia, who played major events in the era.

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The film comes from Lisbon’s Paraíso crew, and recently premiered at the IndieLisboa international film festival.

Speaking about the project, Paraíso said: “The director chose to break away from the traditional interview-to-camera format. Whenever possible, we paired individuals with a pre-existing musical relationship and filmed their conversations.

“These are interwoven with never-before-seen archive footage — from private collections as well as the archives of RTP, SIC, and MTV — and photographs from those who documented this era, such as Da Fonseca, João Curiti, Luísa Ferreira, and Rita Barros.

“Participants were selected based on authenticity and their impact on the movement: from national pioneers of the Portuguese clubbing scene to international figures who contributed to its growth. In total, 38 voices helped build this portrait of an era.”

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A second Lisbon screening is planned for May 9 at Cinema São Jorge, with a third scheduled to take place at Porto’s Cinema Passos Manuel on May 17.

Watch the trailer below.

Patrick Hinton is Mixmag's Editor & Digital Director, follow him on Twitter