A Única Mulher

The telenovela was first announced in March 2014 by Maria João Mira, whose last telenovela was Doida Por Ti in 2012.{{cite web |url=http://www.zapping-tv.com/maria-joao-mira-ja-prepara-nova-novela-para-tvi/|title=Maria João Mira já prepara nova novela para a TVI|date=4 May 2014 |accessdate=July 21, 2015|language= Portuguese}} By August, the telenovela received its first title, Project Angola, and the first names of the main cast: actresses Alexandra Lencastre, Rita Pereira{{cite web|url=https://www.dn.pt/inicio/tv/interior.aspx?content_id=4070772 |title=TVI aposta em Angola para nova novela |accessdate=July 21, 2015 |language=Portuguese |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721230150/http://www.dn.pt/inicio/tv/interior.aspx?content_id=4070772 |archivedate=July 21, 2015 }} and international Portuguese model and presenter Ana Sofia Martins.{{cite web |url=http://www.zapping-tv.com/conheca-protagonista-de-projeto-angola/|title=Conheça a protagonista de "Projeto Angola"|date=24 August 2014 |accessdate=July 21, 2015|language= Portuguese}} The cast would also be played by African and Brazilian actors. The plot addresses racism, xenophobia and political crisis.

{{blockquote|1="It always seems impossible until it´s done", well known quote that inspired the slogan of the telenovela|2= Nelson Mandela}}

José Eduardo Moniz, advisor of TVI's programs, reveals Angola has one of the main sets of the telenovela, with long-run scenes, along with Portugal. Shooting between two continents was one of the essential parts of the project. Later in November 2014, A Única Mulher was revealed as the official title in an exclusive event.{{cite web |url=http://www.destak.pt/galeria/210274-apresentacao-da-novela-a-unica-mulher/|title=Apresentação da novela 'A Única Mulher'|accessdate=July 21, 2015|language= Portuguese}}

{{blockquote|1="The images of Angola will be present throughout the telenovela", especially since "alongside the other protagonists, Angola is also protagonist". "It's a country with very strong traditions in Portugal, from which a very large part of Portuguese have huge nostalgia. What we do is a return to the past, crossing it with the enormous progress that this country [Angola] suffered"{{cite web |url=http://www.zapping-tv.com/unica-mulher-jose-eduardo-moniz-explica-poque-tvi-escolheu-angola/|title="A Única Mulher": José Eduardo Moniz explica porque TVI escolheu Angola|date=12 November 2014 |accessdate=July 21, 2015|language= Portuguese}}|2= José Eduardo Moniz}}

He was also involved in the concept of the main plot. The project's scale gives it the title of most expensive Portuguese telenovela ever and first to have long-run scenes between two different countries and continents. A Única Mulher started being recorded in November 2014. On March 13, 2015, two days before the premiere, the official launch event was broadcast by TVI.{{cite web |url=https://caras.sapo.pt/famosos/2015-03-13-Estrelas-da-nova-novela-da-TVI-brilham-em-festa-de-antestreia|title=Estrelas da nova novela da TVI brilham em festa de antestreia|date=13 March 2015 |accessdate=July 21, 2015|language= Portuguese}}

{{blockquote|1="It is a rare product. There is a lot of investment, a lot of commitment and there is an effort to diversify the scenarios of the telenovela that we've never did before"{{cite web|url=https://www.dn.pt/Inicio/interior.aspx?content_id=4453883 |title='A Única Mulher': Novela explica paixão dos portugueses por Angola |accessdate=July 21, 2015 |language=Portuguese |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722015546/http://www.dn.pt/Inicio/interior.aspx?content_id=4453883 |archivedate=July 22, 2015 }}|2= José Eduardo Moniz}}

The promotion of the telenovela started on February 13 and took place on television, web, exteriors, radio, newspapers and magazines and had a huge impact in the audience. Alongside, TVI was also promoting it as a "worldwide premiere", as it was the first Portuguese telenovela to be exported to another country without having debuted in Portugal. The telenovela was also featured in the 22nd anniversary celebrations of TVI.

The first scene of the telenovela begins at a mining site, where the main character Luís Miguel is taken by surprise by an explosion. This scene was recorded in Angola. The episode then rolls back to Portugal and everything is explained until the explosion took place.

One year later, Mara and Luís Miguel's twin babies take their first steps.

Before dying, Cândida (Laurinda Chiungue) shows Vita (Maura Faial) her birth certificate which reveals that her real mother is still alive and working in Norberto Venâncio's house. At first, Neuza (Mina Andala) does not believe in it. Later, she apologizes to her daughter and shows its willingness to be her mother. But Vita is not quite what she seems; along with César (Pêpê Rapazote), pediatrician, the duo arrives to haunt and destabilize the life of Mara and Luís Miguel.{{cite web |url=http://www.tvi.iol.pt/aunicamulher/quemequem/cesar/56320ddf0cf2f4cfb5ee54a8|title=A Única Mulher - César|accessdate=March 5, 2016|language=Portuguese}} Vita starts working as nanny of the twin babies and quietly seduces Luís Miguel. Betrayal is a matter of time...{{cite web |url=http://www.tvi.iol.pt/aunicamulher/quemequem/vita/56320eb00cf2faf11f8cf095|title=A Única Mulher - Vita|accessdate=March 5, 2016|language=Portuguese}}

With her face disfigured and attached to a wheelchair, Pilar does not conform to her life. Apart from having been deceived and robbed by António (Pedro Carmo), Luís Miguel does not forgive how much harm she did to separate him from Mara. The whole family turn their back and she attempts suicide. Her children become worried and Luís Miguel, along with Mara, tries to prevent his mother's madness. In fact, Pilar will not facilitate the live of her children and daughter in law. Leandro (Fredy Costa) is her physiotherapist and will try everything for her to not lose hope of walking again one day, forming an unlikely friendship between her and a black race man, something she despised.{{cite web |url=http://www.tvi.iol.pt/aunicamulher/quemequem/leandro/563213a70cf2f4cfb5ee54cd|title=A Única Mulher - Leandro|accessdate=March 5, 2016|language=Portuguese}}

Unable to overcome the death of her fiancé, Sara (Joana de Verona) closes herself in Diogo's house and gets drunk every day. Concerned about the follies of his daughter, António recruits Tânia and Radu to follow and watch over her. At that time, Sara and Leandro know each other and the two engage in a romance also unlikely. But the self destructive stage of Sara will destabilize their love.

Norberto remains in prison and is threatened and beaten several times. Ramiro, also in the same prison, will try to save the Angolan businessman of problems, but ends up being stabbed. António tries at all costs to end Norberto's life in prison, but one of his hitman is killed and the evidences against Norberto are absolved.

Now out of prison, Norberto promises revenge and will not return alone, joining forces with Pilar to reclaim what was his and end with António's life.{{cite web |url=https://tvmais.sapo.pt/telenovelas/2015-10-16-A-Unica-Mulher---17-a-23-de-outubro|title=A Única Mulher - October 17 to 23|accessdate=March 5, 2016|language=Portuguese}}{{cite web |url=https://tvmais.sapo.pt/telenovelas/a-unica-mulher/2015-10-21-Tudo-o-que-Mara-vai-sofrer-na-2-temporada-de-A-Unica-Mulher|title=Everything that Mara will suffer in Season 2 of "The Only Woman"|accessdate=March 5, 2016|language=Portuguese}}{{cite web |url=https://tvmais.sapo.pt/telenovelas/2015-10-30-A-Unica-Mulher---31-de-outubro-a-6-de-novembro|title=A Única Mulher - October 31 to November 6|accessdate=March 5, 2016|language=Portuguese}}

• Isaac Carvalho - João da Silva - (Júnior)
• Diana Melo - Matilde Caiado
• João Fernandes - Tomás Caiado
• Maria Arrais - Joana Fragoso

Note: the telenovela was also broadcast on TVI's international channel, in over 10 countries.

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Category:Televisão Independente telenovelas

Category:2015 Portuguese television series debuts

Category:2017 Portuguese television series endings

Category:2015 telenovelas

Category:Portuguese-language telenovelas