Manoel de Oliveira
Born: 1908-12-11 in Porto, Portugal
Died: 2015-04-02
Known For: Directing
Biography
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.
Filmography
2025
2015
- Visit, or Memories and Confessions as Self
- A Century of Energy ... (Director of Photography)
- The Glory of Filmmaking in Portugal as Himself
2014
- Henri Langlois vu par... as Self
- The Old Man of Belem ... (Director)
2013
- Invisible World ... (Director)
- Biette as Self
2012
- Historic Centre ... (Director)
- Gebo and the Shadow ... (Screenplay)
- 101
- The Conquered Conqueror ... (Director)
2011
- Agnès Varda: From Here to There as Self
- Guest as Self
- Sem Cura - à saúde de Manoel de Oliveira
- Agnès Varda: From Here to There as Self
2010
- The Strange Case of Angelica ... (Writer)
- The Panels of São Vicente de Fora: A Poetic Vision ... (Director)
- Sodankylä Forever as Self
2009
- Eccentricities of a Blonde-Haired Girl ... (Editor)
2008
- O Poeta Doido, o Vitral e a Santa Morta ... (Director of Photography)
- Romance de Vila do Conde ... (Director)
2007
- To Each His Own Cinema ... (Director)
- The 15th Stone as Himself
- Manoel de Oliveira, O Caso Dele as Himself
- Christopher Columbus, The Enigma as Manuel Luciano (2007)
2006
- Magic Mirror ... (Director)
- Belle Toujours ... (Director)
- No Tempo do Cinema as Himself
- Conversazione a Porto
- O Improvável Não é Impossível ... (Writer)
2005
- Jornal Português (1938-1951) as Self (archive footage)
- Do visível ao invísivel ... (Screenplay)
2004
- The Fifth Empire ... (Director)
2003
- Agostinho da Silva - A Living Thought as Self
- A Talking Picture ... (Director)
2002
- The Uncertainty Principle ... (Director)
- Moment ... (Director)
2001
- I’m Going Home ... (Director)
- Porto of My Childhood as Himself / Narrator / The Thief
- História do Cinema Português
2000
- Word and Utopia ... (Writer)
1999
- The Letter ... (Director)
1998
- Inquietude as Tango Dancer
1997
1996
- Party ... (Director)
1995
- The Convent ... (Director)
1994
- Blind Man's Bluff ... (Adaptation)
- Lisbon Story as Himself
- Zona+ as Próprio
1993
- Oliveira, l'architecte
- Abraham's Valley ... (Director)
1992
- Day of Despair ... (Director)
1991
1990
1988
- The Cannibals ... (Director)
- A Propósito da Bandeira Nacional ... (Producer)
1987
- Já Está as Self
1986
- My Case ... (Director)
- Simpósio Internacional de Escultura em Pedra ... (Director)
- The Satin Slipper ... (Director)
1984
- Lisboa Cultural ... (Editor)
1982
- The Conversation Is Over as Padre
1981
- Francisca ... (Director)
- Cinématon XI as N°102
- Cinématon n°102 : Manoel de Oliveira
1979
- Doomed Love as Narrator (voice)
1978
- Doomed Love as (voice)
- Cinématon as N°102
1975
- Benilde or the Virgin Mother ... (Screenplay)
1972
- Past and Present ... (Director)
1965
- As Pinturas do Meu Irmão Júlio ... (Screenplay)
1964
- The Hunt ... (Director)
- Villa Verdinho - Uma Aldeia Transmontana ... (Director)
1963
- Acto da Primavera ... (Director)
- The Green Years
1959
- Bread ... (Director)
1956
- The Artist and the City ... (Director)
1942
- Aniki-Bóbó ... (Director)
1941
- Famalicão ... (Director)
1938
- Já Se Fabricam Automóveis em Portugal ... (Editor)
- Miramar, Praia das Rosas ... (Director)
1937
- Os Últimos Temporais - Cheias do Tejo ... (Director)
1933
- A Song of Lisbon as Carlos
1932
- White Coal ... (Executive Producer)
- Lisbon statues ... (Director)
1931
- Working on the Douro River ... (Director)