Manoel de Oliveira
Directing
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
Directing64
movieA Century of Energy
2015
Director
movieThe Old Man of Belem
2014
Director
movieChafariz das Virtudes
2014
Director
movieInvisible World
2013
Director
movieHistoric Centre
2012
Director
movieThe Conquered Conqueror
2012
Director
movieGebo and the Shadow
2012
Director
movieTo Each His Own Cinema
2007
Director
movieBelle Toujours
2006
Director
movieMagic Mirror
2006
Director
movieDo Visível ao Invísivel
2005
Director
movieThe Fifth Empire
2004
Director
movieA Talking Picture
2003
Director
Moment
2002
Director
moviePorto of My Childhood
2001
Director
movieI’m Going Home
2001
Director
movieWord and Utopia
2000
Director
movieThe Letter
1999
Director
movieInquietude
1998
Director
movieA Friendly Handshake
1997
Director
movieParty
1996
Director
movieThe Convent
1995
Director
movieBlind Man's Bluff
1994
Director
movieAbraham's Valley
1993
Director
movieDay of Despair
1992
Director
movieThe Divine Comedy
1991
Director
movieThe Cannibals
1988
Director
movieMy Case
1986
Director
movieThe Satin Slipper
1986
Director
movieLisboa Cultural
1984
Director
movieFrancisca
1981
Director
movieDoomed Love
1979
Director
tvDoomed Love
1978
Director
moviePast and Present
1972
Director
movieThe Hunt
1964
Director
movieActo da Primavera
1963
Director
movieBread
1959
Director
movieThe Artist and the City
1956
Director
movieAniki-Bóbó
1942
Director
movieFamalicão
1941
Director
movieLisbon statues
1932
Director
movieWhite Coal
1932
Director
Writing54
movieThe Old Man of Belem
2014
Screenplay
movieInvisible World
2013
Writer
movieHistoric Centre
2012
Screenplay
movieThe Conquered Conqueror
2012
Screenplay
movieGebo and the Shadow
2012
Screenplay
movieRomance de Vila do Conde
2008
Screenplay
movieBelle Toujours
2006
Writer
movieMagic Mirror
2006
Writer
movieDo Visível ao Invísivel
2005
Screenplay
movieThe Fifth Empire
2004
Screenplay
movieThe Uncertainty Principle
2002
Screenplay
movieI’m Going Home
2001
Screenplay
movieWord and Utopia
2000
Writer
movieThe Letter
1999
Screenplay
movieInquietude
1998
Screenplay
movieA Friendly Handshake
1997
Screenplay
movieParty
1996
Screenplay
movieThe Convent
1995
Writer
movieBlind Man's Bluff
1994
Adaptation, Writer
movieAbraham's Valley
1993
Screenplay
movieDay of Despair
1992
Screenplay
movieThe Divine Comedy
1991
Writer, Screenplay
movieThe Cannibals
1988
Screenplay
movieMy Case
1986
Screenplay
movieThe Satin Slipper
1986
Screenplay
movieFrancisca
1981
Screenplay
movieDoomed Love
1979
Screenplay
tvDoomed Love
1978
Writer, Screenplay
movieBenilde or the Virgin Mother
1975
Screenplay
moviePast and Present
1972
Screenplay
movieAs Pinturas do Meu Irmão Júlio
1965
Screenplay
movieThe Hunt
1964
Writer
movieActo da Primavera
1963
Screenplay
movieBread
1959
Screenplay
movieThe Artist and the City
1956
Screenplay
movieAniki-Bóbó
1942
Screenplay
movieFamalicão
1941
Writer
movieMiramar, Praia das Rosas
1938
Screenplay
movieLisbon statues
1932
Screenplay
movieWhite Coal
1932
Writer
Acting46
movieJornal Português (1938-1951)
2015
Self (archive footage)
movieBiette
2013
Self
movieGuest
2011
Self
movieThe 15th Stone
2007
Himself
movieChristopher Columbus, The Enigma
2007
Manuel Luciano (2007)
movieNo Tempo do Cinema
2006
Himself
moviePorto of My Childhood
2001
Himself / Narrator / The Thief
movieInquietude
1998
Tango Dancer
movieLisbon Story
1994
Himself
tvZona+
1994
Próprio
tvJá Está
1987
Self
movieThe Satin Slipper
1986
Gentleman bowing with hat
movieDoomed Love
1979
Narrator (voice)
movieCinématon
1978
N°102
tvDoomed Love
1978
(voice)
movieBenilde or the Virgin Mother
1975
Screaming Madman (voice)
Editing24
movieThe Convent
1995
Editor
movieDay of Despair
1992
Editor
movieThe Cannibals
1988
Editor
movieLisboa Cultural
1984
Editor
movieThe Hunt
1964
Editor
movieBread
1959
Editor
movieAniki-Bóbó
1942
Editor
movieWhite Coal
1932
Editor
Production14
moviePast and Present
1972
Producer
movieThe Hunt
1964
Producer
movieActo da Primavera
1963
Producer
movieBread
1959
Producer
movieThe Artist and the City
1956
Producer
movieAniki-Bóbó
1942
Co-Producer
movieFamalicão
1941
Producer
movieMiramar, Praia das Rosas
1938
Executive Producer
moviePortugal Já Faz Automóveis
1938
Executive Producer
movieWhite Coal
1932
Executive Producer
Camera10
movieA Century of Energy
2015
Director of Photography
O Poeta Doido, o Vitral e a Santa Morta
2008
Director of Photography
movieRomance de Vila do Conde
2008
Director of Photography
movieAs Pinturas do Meu Irmão Júlio
1965
Director of Photography
movieThe Hunt
1964
Director of Photography
movieActo da Primavera
1963
Director of Photography
movieBread
1959
Director of Photography
movieThe Artist and the City
1956
Director of Photography
movieOs Últimos Temporais - Cheias do Tejo
1937
Director of Photography
movieLisbon statues
1932
Director of Photography
Sound5
movieAs Pinturas do Meu Irmão Júlio
1965
Sound Designer
movieThe Hunt
1964
Sound Designer
movieBread
1959
Sound Designer
movieFamalicão
1941
Sound
Art1
movieDo Visível ao Invísivel
2005
Art Direction
Creator1
tvDoomed Love
1978
Creator