Cinema
Silvestre
João César Monteiro · 1981
Synopsis
In the fifteenth century, Dom Rodrigo, old and without a male heir, promises his daughter Sílvia to a wealthy neighbour and goes to court to invite the king to the wedding, forbidding his two daughters to open the door to anyone. Sílvia disobeys and takes in a pilgrim; the visit goes badly, and a hand is cut off. The father does not return: Sílvia puts on armour, has herself called Silvestre and sets out to find him with the king's army.
Context
The film, with dialogue written with Maria Velho da Costa, blends two stories from the country's tradition: that of the young girl who goes off to war, of Judeo-Iberian origin, and a tale of the dead man's hand, which belongs to the Bluebeard cycle. Everything is played before painted sets and front projections, with legendary creatures. The lead actress, Maria de Medeiros, was fifteen and did not expect to act: shooting had begun with another actress when the director decided to destroy everything and start again with her, who was the daughter of a friend.
Who it is for
A feature film in Portuguese, of a little under two hours; the acting is theatrical and the sets are painted, like a filmed stage.
Prizes and reception
In competition at the Venice Film Festival in 1981, it established its author as one of the most singular voices of his generation.
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