Paula Rego: Secrets & Stories

The narrative traces roughly seven decades, beginning in 1930s Portugal and moving through mid- to late-20th-century London into the early 2000s. It highlights shifts in society and art—from conservative domestic norms to bold, autobiographical works that challenged gender roles. Throughout, the settings reflect periods of personal struggle, professional breakthroughs, and ongoing cultural change.

The film spans Paula Rego's world from her coastal childhood in Ericeira, Portugal, to the vibrant art scenes of London, with bursts of life in Cascais where family life unfolded. It uses these places to show how place shaped her storytelling—private spaces of home and studio, contrasted with cosmopolitan cities that fed her imagination. The documentary’s geography underlines how personal and cultural landscapes influenced her art across decades.

🎨 Art & Life

Paula Rego's paintings are inseparable from her lived experience, turning childhood fantasies, political constraints, and intimate relationships into striking visual narratives. The film shows how her art replays personal histories, turning trauma and desire into provocative images that speak across generations. Through intimate interviews and archival works, the documentary reveals the constant dialogue between life and image.

♀️ Feminism

The film situates Rego within a male-dominated society where women faced repression and limited choices. It traces how her work became a vehicle for female empowerment, including the fight for reproductive rights. Her back-street abortion experiences and the 1998 referendum become catalysts for powerful artworks and public dialogue.

🧠 Mental Health

Depression threads through Rego's life, shaping both her personal life and artistic output. The documentary details periods of darkness and resilience, showing how drawing and painting functioned as a way to endure. It also portrays the emotional cost of fame and private life coexisting with public achievement.

🏛️ Legacy

Her career breakthroughs—1980s transformation, Marlborough Gallery, and a landmark Serpentine retrospective—cemented her influence. Yet the film emphasizes that her greatest impact came from how she redefined women artists' roles. It also frames her art as a legacy that continues to resonate with new generations of artists and viewers.