Films

“In a coast-area community, two clans - a small but influential one, constituted by the owner of the boats; and a larger less-resourceful one of fishermen - whose fishing trawlers go out relentlessly to sea. Over a hateful intrigue, rivalries and passions, hovers a terrible secret”. This was how the film was promoted one hundred years ago when it premiered. Its goal was to glorify the “Lusitanian soul”, although its director was French. Roger Lion was one of the three French pioneers of Portuguese Cinema in its early days, alongside Maurice Mariaud and Georges Pallu. “Os Olhos da Alma” has scuffles, betrayals, ghosts, uncontrollable windmills and an epic character already at the level of films like the ones from D.W. Griffith and Victor Sjostrom. A final note for the producer of this film - Virgínia de Castro e Almeida - one of the heroines of our national cinema, not enough times praised or even mentioned.

The screening of “Os Olhos da Alma” will have a musical accompaniment with an original soundtrack by Surma. The celebration of the film’s centenary will take place in the room Manoel de Oliveira of Cinema São Jorge, on the 18th September.