Manoel de Oliveira

Born: 1908-12-11

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.


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The Green Years

as uncredited
Released: 1963-11-29

Nineteen-year-old Julio heads to Lisbon from the provinces and gets a job as a shoemaker for his...

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Lisbon Story

as Himself
Released: 1994-12-16

Lisbon Story is Wim Wenders' homage to Lisbon and films. A sound engineer obtains a mysterious...

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Cinématon

as N°102
Released: 1978-12-20

Cinématon is a 156-hour long experimental film by French director Gérard Courant. It was the...

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The Divine Comedy

as uncredited
Released: 1991-10-11

In a mental institution the patients see themselves as people like Jesus, Lázaro, Marta, Maria,...

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Christopher Columbus, The Enigma

as Manuel Luciano (2007)
Released: 2007-09-06

A true story of a doctor and his wife who went on a journey in order to prove that discoverer...

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No, or the Vain Glory of Command

as Narrator
Released: 1990-10-12

Episodes from entire military history of Portugal are told through flashbacks as a professorish...

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The Glory of Filmmaking in Portugal

as Himself
Released: 2015-07-06

On 18 September 1929, José Régio sent a letter to Alberto Serpa expressing his desire to create...

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Visit, or Memories and Confessions

as Self
Released: 1993-10-15

A long-hidden, personal doc about leaving a beloved house by the late, revered Portuguese...

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Marcello Mastroianni: I Remember

as Self
Released: 1997-09-10

In 1996, Marcello Mastroianni talks about life as an actor. It's an anecdotal and philosophical...

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Henri Langlois vu par...

as Self
Released: 2014-07-27

Thirteen filmmakers talk about Henri Langlois and their relationship with him.

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Voyage to the Beginning of the World

as Driver
Released: 1997-05-16

Manoel is an aging film director who travels with the film crew through Portugal in search of...

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Anxiety

as Tango Dancer
Released: 1998-05-19

An anthology film drama featuring a poetic mirror structure based on existential identity. In...

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A Song of Lisbon

as Carlos
Released: 1933-11-07

Vasco is a medical student in Lisbon, supported by his rich aunts, whom he had falsely told he...

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Biette

as Self
Released: 2013-06-26

Documentary about the the film critic and filmmaker Jean-Claude Biette.

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101

as uncredited
Released: 2012-07-06

An exploration of the movie "The strange case of Angelica" and an understanding Manoel de...

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Doomed Love

as Narrator (voice)
Released: 1979-11-25

A story about doomed love between two people from different worlds and the impact in their lives.

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The Conversation Is Over

as Padre
Released: 1982-05-13

The film was to be a documentary, but evolved during production to a fictional film. It...

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Agostinho da Silva - A Living Thought

as Self
Released: 2003-01-01

Life and legacy of Agostinho da Silva. Traversing the biographical journey, the life and work...

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Porto of My Childhood

as Himself / Narrator / The Thief
Released: 2001-09-19

Manoel de Oliveira's autobiographical documentary about returning to his hometown.

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Agnès Varda: From Here to There

as Self
Released: 2011-10-01

Agnès Varda travels around the world to meet friends, artists and filmmakers for an expansive...

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The 15th Stone

as Himself
Released: 2007-10-26

Joáo Bénard da Costa, director of the Portuguese National Film Archives [deceased in 2009],...

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Jornal Português (1938-1951)

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2005-12-12

The newsreel series Jornal Português (1938-1951) was produced for the Secretariat of National...

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Guest

as Self
Released: 2011-03-25

Filmmaker José Luis Guerin documents his experience during a year of traveling as a guest of...

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No Tempo do Cinema

as Himself
Released: 2006-05-21

A 58 minute documentary about the life of João Bénard da Costa.

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Nice - À propos de Jean Vigo

as uncredited
Released: 1983-01-01

Part of a series in which foreign filmmakers portray a region or town in France. Manoel de...

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Conversazione a Porto

as uncredited
Released: 2006-01-01

A conversation between the filmmaker Manoel de Olivieira and the writer Agustina Bessa-Luís.

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Oliveira, l'architecte

as uncredited
Released: 1993-10-06

Paulo Rocha catches up with his “beloved subject” in Porto, where he made Douro, Faina Fluvial...

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Sodankylä Forever

as Self
Released: 2010-08-05

The Midnight Sun Film Festival is held every June in the Finnish village of Sodankylä beyond the...

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Fátima Milagrosa

as uncredited
Released: 1928-01-02

Aninhas (Aida Lupo), a paralyzed girl, asks for a miracle from the saint of her devotion, Our...

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Manoel de Oliveira, O Caso Dele

as Himself
Released: 2007-12-11

A tribute documentary to Manoel de Oliveira, on occasion of his 100th birthday.

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A Friendly Handshake

as uncredited
Released: 1997-01-01

From the bridges of Porto to its estuary, two men are paying tribute to the elegant Douro River....

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Zona+

as Próprio
First aired: 1994-09-19

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Já Está

as Self
First aired: 1987-04-25

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Doomed Love

as (voice)
First aired: 1978-11-19

A story about doomed love between two people from different worlds and the impact in their...

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Agnès Varda: From Here to There

as Himself
First aired: 2011-12-19

Agnès Varda takes us on a journey of discovery as she travels the globe—from Stockholm to St....

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Agnès Varda: From Here to There

as uncredited
First aired: 2011-12-19

Agnès Varda takes us on a journey of discovery as she travels the globe—from Stockholm to St....

TV Show page