Directing
Manoel de Oliveira
PT, FR, XX, CA cinema · 89 credits
Born
11 December 1908
Died
2 April 2015 (aged 106)
Birthplace
Porto, Portugal
Also known as Manoel Candido Pinto de Oliveira · Manuel de Oliveira · Мануэль де Оливейра · Мануэл Ди Оливейра
Manoel de Oliveira (11 December 1908 - 2 April 2015) was born in Porto, Portugal 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
Filmography
Visit, or Memories and Confessions
as Self, Director, Editor, Screenplay
Jornal Português (1938-1951)
as Self (archive footage)
A Century of Energy
Director of Photography, Director
The Old Man of Belem
Director, Screenplay
Biette
as Self
Invisible World
Director, Writer
101
Actor
Gebo and the Shadow
Screenplay, Director
Historic Centre
Director, Screenplay
The Conquered Conqueror
Director, Screenplay
Guest
as Self
The Strange Case of Angelica
Writer, Director
The Panels of São Vicente de Fora: A Poetic Vision
Director, Screenplay
Eccentricities of a Blonde-Haired Girl
Editor, Screenplay, Director
Romance de Vila do Conde
Director, Screenplay, Producer, Director of Photography
O Poeta Doido, o Vitral e a Santa Morta
Director of Photography, Producer, Director, Writer
Christopher Columbus, The Enigma
as Manuel Luciano (2007), Director, Screenplay
The 15th Stone
as Himself
To Each His Own Cinema
Director, Writer
Rencontre Unique
Director, Screenplay
No Tempo do Cinema
as Himself
O Improvável Não é Impossível
as (voice), Writer, Director
Belle Toujours
Director, Writer
Magic Mirror
Director, Writer
Do Visível ao Invísivel
Screenplay, Art Direction, Editor, Director
The Fifth Empire
Director, Screenplay
A Talking Picture
Actor, Director, Writer
The Uncertainty Principle
Director, Editor, Screenplay
Moment
Director
Porto of My Childhood
as Himself / Narrator / The Thief, Director, Writer
I’m Going Home
Director, Screenplay
Word and Utopia
Writer, Director
The Letter
Director, Screenplay
Inquietude
as Tango Dancer, Director, Screenplay
A Friendly Handshake
Actor, Director, Screenplay
Voyage to the Beginning of the World
as Driver, Director, Writer
Party
Director, Screenplay
The Convent
Director, Writer, Editor
Lisbon Story
as Himself
Blind Man's Bluff
Adaptation, Director, Editor, Writer
Abraham's Valley
Director, Screenplay, Editor
Day of Despair
Director, Editor, Screenplay
The Divine Comedy
Actor, Writer, Editor, Screenplay, Director
No, or the Vain Glory of Command
as Narrator, Director, Screenplay, Editor
The Cannibals
Director, Editor, Screenplay
A Propósito da Bandeira Nacional
1988
A Propósito da Bandeira Nacional
Producer, Director
The Satin Slipper
as Gentleman bowing with hat, Director, Screenplay
My Case
Director, Screenplay
Lisboa Cultural
Editor, Director
Nice - À propos de Jean Vigo
Actor, Director
Francisca
Director, Screenplay
Doomed Love
as Narrator (voice), Director, Screenplay
Cinématon
as N°102
Benilde or the Virgin Mother
as Screaming Madman (voice), Screenplay, Editor, Director
Past and Present
Director, Producer, Editor, Screenplay
As Pinturas do Meu Irmão Júlio
Screenplay, Director, Director of Photography, Sound Designer, Producer, Editor
The Hunt
Director, Director of Photography, Writer, Editor, Producer, Sound Designer
Acto da Primavera
Director, Sound, Screenplay, Producer, Director of Photography, Editor
Bread
Director, Producer, Sound Designer, Editor, Screenplay, Director of Photography
The Artist and the City
Director, Editor, Screenplay, Producer, Director of Photography
Aniki-Bóbó
Director, Co-Producer, Editor, Screenplay
Famalicão
Director, Writer, Producer, Sound
Portugal Já Faz Automóveis
Editor, Executive Producer, Director, Writer
Miramar, Praia das Rosas
Director, Screenplay, Editor, Executive Producer
Os Últimos Temporais - Cheias do Tejo
Director, Director of Photography
A Song of Lisbon
as Carlos
White Coal
Executive Producer, Editor, Director, Writer
Lisbon statues
Director, Director of Photography, Screenplay
Working on the Douro River
Director, Writer, Editor