Manoel de Oliveira (Director)

Reviews of movies from director Manoel de Oliveira

Looking for reviews of films directed by Manoel de Oliveira? Cinafilm has a total of 112 reviews across 7 movies directed by Manoel de Oliveira.

Movies from this director have generally received positive reviews and hold an average rating of 69%.

Aniki-Bóbó is Manoel de Oliveira's highest rated movie, with a score of 80% based on 2 reviews.

The lowest rated film from Manoel de Oliveira is Belle Toujours, with a score of 55% based on 32 reviews.

Director Biography

Manoel de Oliveira was born in Oporto, Portugal on December 11, 1908, to Francisco José de Oliveira and Cândida Ferreira Pinto. His family were wealthy industrialists. De 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 the 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 the 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 the Oliveira''s conception of the film. In 1963, The action of the Spring (The Rite of Spring), a documentary depicting an annual passion play, marked a turning point for his career. This was shortly followed by The hunt (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), and he has made at least one film each year. De 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 Montréal film festivals. He has been awarded two Career Golden Lions in 1985 and 2004 and for the golden palm for his lifetime achievements in 2008.

Manoel de Oliveira has directed films starring Leonor Silveira, Ricardo Trêpa, Isabel Ruth and Leonor Baldaque.