Movie spotlight
Episodes from throughout the entire military history of Portugal are told through flashbacks as a conscripted student of history recounts them to his fellow soldiers while they march through an African colony in revolt during 1973.
This film delves into the complex and often brutal realities of colonial warfare, focusing on the experiences of Portuguese soldiers in Africa during the colonial wars. It explores themes of duty, disillusionment, and the psychological toll of conflict. The narrative weaves together personal stories with broader historical context, reflecting on the futility and moral ambiguity of the war.
The film received critical acclaim for its powerful and unflinching portrayal of the Portuguese colonial wars. Reviewers praised its artistic merit, its profound exploration of human suffering, and its historical significance. It is considered a significant work in Portuguese cinema, known for its thoughtful and somber examination of a difficult period in the nation's history.
Praised for its stark and impactful depiction of the colonial wars.
Commended for its philosophical depth and exploration of the human cost of conflict.
Recognized as an important and artistically significant piece of Portuguese cinema.
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Selected for the Official Competition at the 1990 Cannes Film Festival. Won the Golden Leopard at the Locarno International Film Festival in 1990.
The film is based on the writings of António Lobo Antunes, a Portuguese physician and writer known for his unflinching accounts of the colonial wars.
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**One of Oliveira's best… but weak, fragile, boring and a little unpatriotic.** I already had the opportunity to see, and review here, more than one film by Manoel de Oliveira, and after having seen this film, I keep my ideas. I have abs...