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Photo of Manoel de Oliveira

Manoel de Oliveira

Director, Writer, Editor, Actor, Producer, Additional Credits
Born December 11, 1908Died April 2, 2015 (106 years)
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.

Known For

  • A Talking Picture
  • I'm Going Home
  • The Strange Case of Angelica
  • Aniki Bobo
  • Abraham's Valley
  • Eccentricities of a Blonde-Haired Girl
  • The Letter
  • Belle toujours
  • The Convent
  • No, or the Vain Glory of Command
  • Word and Utopia
  • Gebo and the Shadow
  • Porto of My Childhood
  • Francisca
  • The Cannibals
  • To Each His Own Cinema
  • Party
  • Anxiety
  • Christopher Columbus, the Enigma
  • Magic Mirror
  • Memories and Confessions

Manoel de Oliveira Filmography

2014
O Velho do Restelo · as Screenplay
2012
2012
Historic Centre · as Screenplay
2012
Gebo and the Shadow · as Screenplay
2010
2009
2007
2007
2006
2005
2004
The Fifth Empire · as Screenplay
2003
2002
The Uncertainty Principle · as Screenplay
2001
2001
I'm Going Home · as Screenplay
2000
1999
The Letter · as Screenplay
1998
Anxiety · as Screenplay
1997
1996
Party · as Screenplay
1995
1993
Abraham's Valley · as Screenplay
1993
Memories and Confessions · as Screenplay
1992
Day of Despair · as Screenplay
1991
1990
1988
The Cannibals · as Screenplay
1986
My Case · as Screenplay
1985
The Satin Slipper · as Screenplay
1981
Francisca · as Screenplay
1979
Doomed Love · as Screenplay
1978
Ill-Fated Love (TV Series) · as Screenplay
1975
1972
Past and Present · as Screenplay
1963
Rite of Spring · as Screenplay
1959
O Pão · as Screenplay
1942
Aniki Bobo · as Screenplay
1931

2015
2011
Agnes Varda: From Here to There (TV Series) · as Self
2011
2010
Guest · as Self
2010
Hitler in Hollywood · as Manoel De Oliveira
2010
Sodankylä Forever (TV Series) · as Self
2008
40 x 15 · as Self
2004
2001
Porto of My Childhood · as Himself / Narrator / The Thief
1998
Grande Entrevista (TV Series) · as Self
1997
1996
VIP World (TV Series) · as Self
1995
Metropolis (TV Series) · as Self
1994
Lisbon Story · as Himself
1993
1989
Cinéma, de notre temps (TV Series) · as Self

2007
Christopher Columbus, the Enigma · as Manuel Luciano (2007)
1998
Anxiety · as Tango Dancer
1997
1991
1990
1984
Cinématon · as N°102
1983
1981
The Other One · as Padre
1979
Doomed Love · as Narrator (voice)
1978
Ill-Fated Love (TV Series) · as (voice)
1963
1933
A Song of Lisbon · as Carlos

1994
The Box · as Adaptation
1963
Rite of Spring · as Director Of Photography
1963
Rite of Spring · as Sound
1959
O Pão · as Director Of Photography
1959
O Pão · as Sound Designer

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