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Manoel de Oliveira

Manoel de Oliveira

Director · 1908 – 2015 · Porto, Portugal

Manoel 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.

Movies21

  • Movie7.2

    Lisbon Story

    1994 · 131 votes

  • Movie8.0

    Fátima Milagrosa

    1928 · 1 votes

  • Movie6.7

    Um Filme Falado

    A Talking Picture

    2003 · 47 votes

  • Movie6.2

    HH, Hitler à Hollywood

    Hitler in Hollywood

    2011 · 14 votes

  • Movie6.0

    Guest

    2011 · 8 votes

  • Movie5.0
  • Movie7.3

    Benilde ou a Virgem Mãe

    Benilde or the Virgin Mother

    1975 · 14 votes

  • Movie7.6

    Le Soulier de satin

    The Satin Slipper

    1986 · 10 votes

  • Movie6.4

    Non, ou a Vã Glória de Mandar

    No, or the Vain Glory of Command

    1990 · 27 votes

  • Movie7.6

    Agnès de ci de là Varda

    Agnès Varda: From Here to There

    2011 · 7 votes

  • Movie4.9

    Cinématon

    1978 · 7 votes

  • Movie7.0

    Os Verdes Anos

    The Green Years

    1963 · 33 votes

  • Movie6.7

    Viagem ao Princípio do Mundo

    Voyage to the Beginning of the World

    1997 · 18 votes

  • Movie5.6

    Cristóvão Colombo - O Enigma

    Christopher Columbus, The Enigma

    2007 · 12 votes

  • Movie7.6

    Marcello Mastroianni - Mi ricordo, sì, io mi ricordo

    Marcello Mastroianni: I Remember

    1997 · 12 votes

  • Movie6.6

    A Divina Comédia

    The Divine Comedy

    1991 · 18 votes

  • Movie6.8

    Inquietude

    1998 · 9 votes

  • Movie7.3

    Visita ou Memórias e Confissões

    Visit, or Memories and Confessions

    2015 · 18 votes

  • Movie6.8

    Porto da Minha Infância

    Porto of My Childhood

    2001 · 18 votes

  • Movie8.5

    A Canção de Lisboa

    A Song of Lisbon

    1933 · 44 votes

  • Movie

    En une poignée de mains amies

    A Friendly Handshake

    1997

Series5

  • TV5.0

    Ciné regards

    1978 · 1 votes

  • TV6.5

    Agnès de ci de là Varda

    Agnès Varda: From Here to There

    2011 · 6 votes

  • TV6.8

    Amor de Perdição

    Doomed Love

    1978 · 4 votes

  • TV8.0

    Zona+

    1994 · 1 votes

  • TV