Manoel de Oliveira
DirectingManoel de Oliveira was born in Porto, Portugal on December 11, 1908, to Francisco José de Oliveira and Cândida Ferreira Pinto. His family were wealthy industrialists. Oliveira attended school in Galicia, Spain and his goal as a teenager was to become an actor. He enrolled in Italian film-maker Rino Lupo's acting school at age 20, but later changed his mind when he saw Walther Ruttmann's documentary Berlin: Symphony of a City. This prompted him to direct his first film, also a documentary, titledDouro, Faina Fluvial (1931). He also acted in the second Portuguese sound film, A Canção de Lisboa (1933). His first feature film came much later, in 1942. Aniki-Bóbó, a portrait of Oporto's street children, was a commercial failure when it opened, and its merit only came to be recognised over time. This drawback forced Oliveira to abandon other film projects he was involved in, and to dedicate himself to running his family vineyard. He re-emerged onto the film scene in 1956 with The Artist and the City, a work that marked a turning point in Oliveira's conception of the cinema. In 1963, O Acto de Primavera (The Rite of Spring), a documentary depicting an annual passion play, marked a turning point for his career. This was shortly followed by A caça (The Hunt), a grim feature film that contrasted with the happy tones of his previous documentary. Despite the widespread acclaim garnered by both films, he would not return to the director's seat until the 1970s. Since 1990 (when he turned 82), he has made at least one film each year. Oliveira has said that he direct movies for the sheer pleasure of doing it, regardless of critical reaction. He maintains a quiet life away from the spotlights, despite multiple honours such as those of the Cannes, Venice and Montreal film festivals. He has been awarded two Career Golden Lions in 1985 and 2004 and a golden palm for his lifetime achievements in 2008.
Known For
Cinématon
N°102
Lisbon Story
Himself
Henri Langlois vu par...
Self
No, or the Vain Glory of Command
Narrator
Agnès Varda: From Here to There
Self
The Satin Slipper
Gentleman bowing with hat
Inquietude
Tango Dancer
The Green Years
The Life of Mirrors
A Talking Picture
Filmography — Acting
Cinématon
N°102
Lisbon Story
Himself
Henri Langlois vu par...
Self
No, or the Vain Glory of Command
Narrator
Agnès Varda: From Here to There
Self
The Satin Slipper
Gentleman bowing with hat
Inquietude
Tango Dancer
The Green Years
The Life of Mirrors
A Talking Picture
Jornal Português (1938-1951)
Self (archive footage)
Sodankylä Forever
Self
A Song of Lisbon
Carlos
The Divine Comedy
Benilde or the Virgin Mother
Screaming Madman (voice)
Marcello Mastroianni: I Remember
Self
The 15th Stone
Himself
Oliveira, l'architecte
Christopher Columbus, The Enigma
Manuel Luciano (2007)
Voyage to the Beginning of the World
Driver
Biette
Self
The Conversation Is Over
Padre
Fátima Milagrosa
Visit, or Memories and Confessions
Self
Cinéma Portugais – Un Mode d'Emploi
Porto of My Childhood
Himself / Narrator / The Thief
Guest
Self
Cinématon XI
N°102
Nice - À propos de Jean Vigo
Doomed Love
Narrator (voice)
O Improvável Não é Impossível
(voice)
Manoel de Oliveira, O Caso Dele
Himself
No Tempo do Cinema
Himself
Agostinho da Silva - A Living Thought
Self
101
The Glory of Filmmaking in Portugal
Himself
A Friendly Handshake
Conversazione a Porto
Cinématon n°102 : Manoel de Oliveira
Sem Cura - à saúde de Manoel de Oliveira
Filmography — Crew
To Each His Own Cinema
Director
I’m Going Home
Director
The Strange Case of Angelica
Writer
No, or the Vain Glory of Command
Director
Eccentricities of a Blonde-Haired Girl
Screenplay
My Case
Director
The Convent
Director
Francisca
Director
Gebo and the Shadow
Screenplay
The Satin Slipper
Director
Inquietude
Director
Party
Director
The Letter
Director
Acto da Primavera
Director
Invisible World
Director
Abraham's Valley
Director
A Talking Picture
Director
The Cannibals
Director
Belle Toujours
Director
Aniki-Bóbó
Director
Word and Utopia
Director
Magic Mirror
Director
The Old Man of Belem
Screenplay
The Fifth Empire
Director
The Divine Comedy
Writer
Benilde or the Virgin Mother
Screenplay
Lisboa Cultural
Director
Blind Man's Bluff
Director
Day of Despair
Director
Past and Present
Director
As Pinturas do Meu Irmão Júlio
Director
Christopher Columbus, The Enigma
Director
Bread
Director
Voyage to the Beginning of the World
Director
Historic Centre
Director
The Uncertainty Principle
Director
Visit, or Memories and Confessions
Director
Porto of My Childhood
Director
Lisbon statues
Screenplay
Romance de Vila do Conde
Director
Famalicão
Writer
Nice - À propos de Jean Vigo
Director
Simpósio Internacional de Escultura em Pedra
Director
The Hunt
Director
The Panels of São Vicente de Fora: A Poetic Vision
Director
The Conquered Conqueror
Director
Portugal Já Faz Automóveis
Director
Doomed Love
Screenplay
The Artist and the City
Director
O Improvável Não é Impossível
Writer
A Propósito da Bandeira Nacional
Producer
Do Visível ao Invísivel
Screenplay
Villa Verdinho - Uma Aldeia Transmontana
Director
Os Últimos Temporais - Cheias do Tejo
Director
A Friendly Handshake
Director
A Century of Energy
Director
White Coal
Director
O Poeta Doido, o Vitral e a Santa Morta
Producer
Working on the Douro River
Director
Miramar, Praia das Rosas
Screenplay
Chafariz das Virtudes
Director
Moment
Director