JOSÉ AND PILAR
JOSÉ E PILAR
Portugal, 2010
117 minutes
directed by: Miguel Gonçalves Mendes
This dynamic and modern documentary, which invites us to the intimate universe of the Nobel-laureate José Saramago, enjoyed immense success in Portugal during its five-month continuous run in theaters. In Brazil, it became the most watched Portuguese film of all times, having been screened in eleven cities. The film received the greatest cinematic honor of being elected as the official Portuguese contender for the Oscars in the Best Foreign Language Film category, a privilege which all countries up until this year reserved strictly for fiction feature films.
An exciting journey that this lively, charming and emotional documentary takes us on is a worldwide travelogue of the famous writer, but it is also an unstoppable and constant movement of the spirit in search of answers as to what this world is exactly like and what we are like within it. His wife Pilar del Rio is always present by Saramago’s side as an inseparable companion and a woman who bestows inspiration and energy upon him. The film focuses on this deep and multilayered relationship that fills every bit of their rich lives.
A special treat for the viewers are certainly moments of conversation during various encounters in which José Saramago reveals his own views about the world, and his thoughts on quintessential topics related to life. It is particularly exciting that the film documents Saramago writing his last novel, “The Elephant’s Journey,” while Pilar del Rio simultaneously translates it into Spanish, in a dramatic race against time.
Impressive moments spent with one of the most important writers of our time.
Selector's Word: You should watch this film with your partner, wife, girl- or boyfriend. This is – apart from being a very good film – a true inspiration for keeping a love relationship intact.
www.joseepilar.com
Miguel Gonçalves Mendes
Born on September 2, 1978 in Covilha, Portugal. Studied Anthropology for a year at the New University of Lisbon, and International Relations for two years at the Political and Social Sciences Superior Institute in Lisbon. At 20 years old he started to act and to produce theater plays. Graduated at Lisbon Film School with a degree in Editing in 2005. During his studies he created his film and theater producing company JumpCut. Directed and produced various short fiction and documentary films.
SELECTED FILMOGRAPHY
AUTOGRAFIA, 2004
JOSÉ AND PILAR (José e Pilar), 2010
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