Providence and the Guitar

The life of a travelling artist is never easy, and Leon and Elvira know this all too well. Between uncooperative police officers, musical competitors and mischievous little demons – and with a little help from friends they meet along the way – they try to find the strength to remain committed to their art.

João Nicolau's fourth feature film takes place over a single day, but that chronology is occasionally interrupted by compelling leaps in time, to a century and a half later. The main characters are constantly searching for ways to earn a living and express themselves artistically, and the wonderful cast – including singer Salvador Sobral, in the role of a reserved economics student – delivers a beautiful story about the importance of art in everyday life. In a world where culture is increasingly being drawn into the political arena, Nicolau's film is a determined but gentle story of resistance.