Manoel de Oliveira

Directing·Dec 11, 1908·Porto, Portugal

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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.

Film	Credit
A Century of Energy2015 · Director, Director of Photography	Director, Director of Photography
Visit, or Memories and Confessions2015 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
The Old Man of Belem2014 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
Chafariz das Virtudes2014 · Director	Director
Invisible World2013 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
Historic Centre2012 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
The Conquered Conqueror2012 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
Gebo and the Shadow2012 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
The Strange Case of Angelica2010 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
The Panels of São Vicente de Fora: A Poetic Vision2010 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
Eccentricities of a Blonde-Haired Girl2009 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
O Poeta Doido, o Vitral e a Santa Morta2008 · Producer, Director of Photography, Director, Writer	Producer, Director of Photography, Director, Writer
Romance de Vila do Conde2008 · Director, Screenplay, Producer, Director of Photography	Director, Screenplay, Producer, Director of Photography
To Each His Own Cinema2007 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
Christopher Columbus, The Enigma2007 · Manuel Luciano (2007), Director, Screenplay	Manuel Luciano (2007), Director, Screenplay
Rencontre Unique2007 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
Belle Toujours2006 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
O Improvável Não é Impossível2006 · (voice), Director, Writer	(voice), Director, Writer
Magic Mirror2006 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
Do Visível ao Invísivel2005 · Screenplay, Director	Screenplay, Director
The Fifth Empire2004 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
A Talking Picture2003 · Actor, Director, Writer	Actor, Director, Writer
The Uncertainty Principle2002 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
Moment2002 · Director	Director
Porto of My Childhood2001 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
I’m Going Home2001 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
Word and Utopia2000 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
The Letter1999 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
Inquietude1998 · Tango Dancer, Director, Screenplay	Tango Dancer, Director, Screenplay
Voyage to the Beginning of the World1997 · Driver, Director, Writer	Driver, Director, Writer
A Friendly Handshake1997 · Actor, Director, Screenplay	Actor, Director, Screenplay
Party1996 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
The Convent1995 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
Blind Man's Bluff1994 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
Abraham's Valley1993 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
Day of Despair1992 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
The Divine Comedy1991 · Actor, Writer, Screenplay, Director	Actor, Writer, Screenplay, Director
No, or the Vain Glory of Command1990 · Narrator, Director, Screenplay	Narrator, Director, Screenplay
AA Propósito da Bandeira Nacional1988 · Producer, Director	Producer, Director
The Cannibals1988 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
My Case1986 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
Simpósio Internacional de Escultura em Pedra1986 · Director	Director
The Satin Slipper1986 · Gentleman bowing with hat, Director, Screenplay	Gentleman bowing with hat, Director, Screenplay
Lisboa Cultural1984 · Director	Director
Nice - À propos de Jean Vigo1983 · Actor, Director	Actor, Director
Francisca1981 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
Doomed Love1979 · Narrator (voice), Director, Screenplay	Narrator (voice), Director, Screenplay
Benilde or the Virgin Mother1975 · Screaming Madman (voice), Screenplay, Director	Screaming Madman (voice), Screenplay, Director
Past and Present1972 · Director, Screenplay, Producer	Director, Screenplay, Producer
As Pinturas do Meu Irmão Júlio1965 · Director, Screenplay, Producer, Director of Photography	Director, Screenplay, Producer, Director of Photography
Villa Verdinho - Uma Aldeia Transmontana1964 · Director	Director
The Hunt1964 · Director, Director of Photography, Writer, Producer	Director, Director of Photography, Writer, Producer
Acto da Primavera1963 · Director, Screenplay, Producer, Director of Photography	Director, Screenplay, Producer, Director of Photography
Bread1959 · Director, Screenplay, Producer, Director of Photography	Director, Screenplay, Producer, Director of Photography
The Artist and the City1956 · Director, Screenplay, Producer, Director of Photography	Director, Screenplay, Producer, Director of Photography
Aniki-Bóbó1942 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
Famalicão1941 · Director, Writer, Producer	Director, Writer, Producer
Miramar, Praia das Rosas1938 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
Portugal Já Faz Automóveis1938 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
Os Últimos Temporais - Cheias do Tejo1937 · Director, Director of Photography	Director, Director of Photography
Lisbon statues1932 · Director, Director of Photography, Screenplay	Director, Director of Photography, Screenplay
White Coal1932 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
Working on the Douro River1931 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer