It is entitled "The Origin of Ambition" and came on Angolan television this year to reveal the dark past of the Voss family.
The soap opera "Windeck" was an independent production that premiered in Angola more than ten years ago, in 2012. The following year, it was broadcast on RTP1. In between, it became a huge phenomenon in other parts of the world, such as Brazil and France. Here, it captivated hundreds of thousands of Portuguese, who followed closely what people are able to do to get rich quickly and easily.
More than a decade later, a new film inspired by that universe has finally arrived. It is a prequel, the first episode of which premiered on 22 January in Angola on South African broadcaster DSTV's Kwenda Magic channel.
This comeback makes perfect sense. After all, it has been broadcast countless times on various international channels "and has taken on a life of its own on social media," Coréon Dú, producer, director and creator of the concept, explains to NiT. She adds: "Lovers of the telenovela have been asking for the project to return in some form for several years. The idea of a prequel comes precisely because it opens up an interesting narrative opportunity by telling the backstory of some of the original version's favourite characters."
So the fans were largely responsible for this return. That's also why the screenwriters decided to write a story that takes place before the original narrative, contrary to what many viewers might have expected. "The inspiration came from the sense of nostalgia that the fans showed when they asked for it to come back," says the 39-year-old filmmaker.
Interestingly, the narrative begins right where the original ended: with the villainous Rosa Bettencourt in prison. Over the years, this character has become enigmatic, arousing more and more interest. In "Windeck: The Origins of Ambition" we will delve into the secrets of the past of the Voss family, who ran major media companies in the town where it all takes place. We will also get to know "all the drama and toxicity of the relationship between the Vosses and Rosa".
When the original episodes were written and produced between 2012 and 2013, Coréon believed that the story was over, as it followed the classic format of beginning, middle and end. "However, art takes on a life of its own when it starts to burn out. The big surprise was that we received positive feedback for a decade and thanks to social media we realised how much people of different nationalities, cultures and ages wanted a new telenovela."
In fact, the play went viral on TikTok during the Covid-19 pandemic. With most of the population locked indoors, different videos of key moments of the phenomenon began to be shared. "It's a very pleasant surprise when a creation acquires this kind of longevity so unexpectedly".
This new part of the story will have 170 episodes. Filming began early last year, but the idea was in the director's head long before that. The road, unfortunately, was not an easy one, and choosing the perfect cast proved to be an arduous task.
"It was a big challenge, because it was important for us to find young talent that captured the spirit of the original actors," he explains. For "The Origin of Ambition", Coréon Dú chose names of reference in PALOP and Portugal. Grace Mendes, for example, appeared in the soap operas "Nazaré" and "Amor Amor".
At the moment, it is not known whether this new adaptation will be broadcast in Portugal, but Coréon Dú is hopeful that it will. In Portugal, the Angolan author has already worked on productions of RTP's "Voo Directo" and TVI's "Única Mulher".
"I hope there will soon be an opportunity to share 'Windeck: the origin of ambition' in Portugal," he confesses.
The future of the soap opera may be dark, but it is already a hit, and not just with the original fans. "It's been interesting because there are two generations of viewers. Those who know and discover the past of their favourite characters, and those who are seeing them for the first time. Being able to get feedback from viewers on social media has been a very interesting and educational dynamic."