New Documentary ‘Paraiso’ Follows the Rave Culture in Portugal
The documentary directed by Daniel Mota takes a deep dive into the early days of rave culture in Portugal.
The documentary directed by Daniel Mota takes a deep dive into the early days of rave culture in Portugal.
Comprising insights from 38 people who have contributed to the Portuguese clubbing scene and its blooming, the 78-minute film has been crafted by putting together never-before-seen archival footage, interviews, and more. Titled ‘Paraíso,’ the film features Portuguese producer/DJ Rui da Silva, best known for ‘Touch Me,’ Lisbon’s powerhouse Yen Sung, who is among the leading names in the Portuguese dance music scene, as well as Brooklyn-born Danny Tenaglia.
DJ/producer Shcuro stage, name of João Ervedosa, and Maria Guedes AKA Maria Amor started speaking to people about this film back in 2017. “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,” the Paraiso crew explained the film-making process.
The documentary premiered at the independent film festival IndieLisboa earlier this month. It tells the tale of the Portuguese rave culture with the help of interviews with DJ/producers as well as dancers and promoters who saw the birth of the scene in Portugal. More than a thousand photographs were digitized for the making of this film, as revealed in an interview with DJ Mag. Viewers will not only get a glimpse of unseen home footage, but also traverse behind the scenes at events and parties, including raves in castles with about 5000 partygoers in attendance.
“Between interviews that only happened at 7 AM in a club’s backstage and months spent waiting for tapes rescued from attics and garages, ten years have gone by,” the producers shared in a statement as per Resident Advisor. “And today, we look at this film knowing it’s not just a documentary — it’s a love letter to a culture that shaped who we are.”
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