There’s no greater tribute to a specter lover than to be converted into a venerable ghost. But this spectral account of the life of a man who was a Portuguese version of Henri Langlois –also a Renaissance man: poet, professor, theorist, director of the Portuguese Cinematheque, and actor in films by Manoel de Oliveira and João César Monteiro– doesn’t get lost in melancholy, but rather floats constantly in a state of grace, distilling warmth as it presents to us this extraordinary man in all of his dimensions. Manuel Mozos brings Da Costa back like Dreyer did with Inga in the ending of Ordet, the greatest masterpiece according to this great Lusitanian cinephile. The past returns and illuminates as the film draws from key areas of his life –the wonderful Sintra, cradle of princely pasts–, photo montages, pristine condition memorabilia, film fragments he loved –like Johnny Guitar–, and the narration of his son, whose tone and texture are so similar to his father’s. Speaking of death becomes speaking of life, and in the process, manages to turn absence into presence, just as it happens in a film theater. GS
Section: PanoramaD: Manuel Mozos
F: Inês Duarte
E: Luís Nunes
S, M: Nuno Henrique
P: Rui Alexandre Santos
CP: Rosa Filmes
Rosa Filmes. Rui Alexandre Santos
T +351 213 031 810 +351 910 013 420
E rui@rosafilmes.pt W rosafilmes.com
He was born in Lisbon, Portugal, in 1959. He studied Philosophy and History before entering the Theater and Film School, where he specialized in editing. He directed fiction films like ...When It Thunders (1998) and 4 copas (2008) as well as documentaries, including Lisboa no cinema - Um ponto de vista (1994) and Aldina Duarte: Princesa prometida (...
05 May 2015
25 April 2015
25 April 2015
