“The Minho region won my heart”
The first adventure of actor, comedian and presenter Fábio Porchat on Portuguese television started last week. The Brazilian launched the program “Viagem a Portugal”, based on the book by José Saramago. like during the RTP, the ‘carioca’, name given to those who are born or live in Rio de Janeiro, visited cities such as Barcelos, Guimarães, Viana do Castelo, Braga and Póvoa de Lanhoso. In an exclusive interview with O MINHO, he says he fell in love with the region, with emphasis on gastronomy, culture, landscapes and football.
“You eat very well in Portugal, the Minho region in particular won my heart. I ate the best cod of my life in Póvoa de Lanhoso, it was a [rica] experience. I had already visited Braga as a tourist, I have now spent time as a researcher, and it is one of the most beautiful cities in Portugal, the Municipal Stadium… I fell in love, I went to see a game, ‘Pedreira’ is very interesting”, said Porchat, who in Brazil is supporter of Vasco da Gama.
The new program “Viagem a Portugal” covered Saramago’s work geographically, but now with the “curious and fun” look of the Brazilian comedian, famous in Portugal also because of the Porta dos Fundos channel.
Porchat explains that the project came about following an invitation from director Ivan Dias: “Ivan Dias wanted to transcribe the book into a television series. So he all called me, he wanted a fresco, from outside, and that he was looking for affection for Portugal, but that he was more surprised by the things that the Portuguese was already used to, and I thought this explanation made sense”.
And he describes: “I will delve deeper, we went to 130 different places, between cities, towns and villages. And it is very interesting to look at Portugal with a less touristy eye and more from within. You end up getting to know these places in more powerful ways, meeting local people, eating food there, in local restaurants, living the life that people there are living”.
This is a program that is part of the celebrations of the centenary of the birth of José Saramago and also marks the re-edition of the work edited exactly 40 years ago.
In the first program, shown last week, Porchat toured places in Trás-os-Montes, such as Bragança and Murça, and also in the district of Porto, such as Amarante. Five will be shown on the next Saturdays, at 21:00, on RTP1 and RTP playback.
ONE RTPhowever, he already wants to hold the Brazilian for other “missions”.
“There are new projects for the RTP, I even recorded one. It is a project for the summer of next year, it will be interesting to set foot in Portugal”.
Produced by Zerkalo Pictures for the RTP, the series is directed by Ivan Dias and scripted by Susana Verde. The original music is by the Argentine Gustavo Santaolalla and the soundtrack by Amadeu Magalhães.