Capitães de Abril (2000)

Director:

Maria de Medeiros

Writers:

Ève Deboise (writer)
Maria de Medeiros (writer)

Release Date:

21 April 2000 (Portugal)

Genre:

Drama | History | War

Tagline:

Há momentos em que a única solução é desobedecer.

Plot:

Story of the 1974 coup that overthrew the right-wing Portuguese dictatorship--which continued the fascist policies of long-time dictator Antonio Salazar--and of two young army captains who were involved in it. |

Plot Keywords:

Captain | Portuguese | Colonialism | Interrogation | Africa

Awards:

4 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Stefano Accorsi	...	Maia
Maria de Medeiros	...	Antónia
Joaquim de Almeida	...	Gervásio
Frédéric Pierrot	...	Manuel
Fele Martínez	...	Lobão
Manuel João Vieira	...	Fonseca
Marcantonio Del Carlo	...	Silva
Emmanuel Salinger	...	Botelho
Rita Durão	...	Rosa
Manuel Manquiña	...	Gabriel
Duarte Guimarães	...	Daniel
Manuel Lobão	...	Fernandes
Luís Miguel Cintra	...	Pais
Joaquim Leitão	...	Filipe
Canto e Castro	...	Salieri

Also Known As:

April Captains (USA)
Capitaines d'avril (France)
Capitanes de abril (Spain)
Capitani d'aprile (Italy)
Captains of April (International: English title)

Runtime:

123 min | Argentina:125 min (Mar del Plata Film Festival)

Country:

Spain | Italy | France | Portugal

Language:

Portuguese

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:13 | France:U | Netherlands:12 | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:T

Filming Locations:

Escola Prática de Infantaria, Santarém, Portugal

Company:

Alia Film

Trivia:

The voice of "Oscar" on the telephone is the voice of lieutenant-colonel Otelo Saraiva de Carvalho, acting the role he had played years before in real life. In 1974, it was he (as a major) who organized and planned the revolution that the film depicts, and it was he who commanded the troops from Headquarters at Pontinha. His code name was "Oscar."

Goofs:

Factual errors: The officer of the day at Escola Prática de Cavalaria, Liutenent Lobão, doesn't wear the red band at his left arm that all all officers of the day must wear to identify them as such.

I loved it

"Capitães de Abril" is a very good. The story isn't a documentary about the 1974 revolution in Portugal. But it gives us an idea of how it was like. The fiction of the story isn't of great interest, but it doesn't spoil the movie. The heroic actions of Captain Salgueiro Maia aren't exaggerations and the film is also a tribute for his deeds. Captain Salgueiro Maia remains one of the greatest heroes of the 25th of April Revolution.

All the actors are very good and even the smallest roles are played wonderfully. Lisbon looks beautiful as ever. Don't miss it! I liked this film very much.