Um Filme Falado (2003)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Manoel de Oliveira

Writer:

Manoel de Oliveira (scenario and dialogue)

Release Date:

15 October 2003 (France)

Genre:

Drama | Comedy

Plot:

A meditation on civilization. July, 2001: friends wave as a cruise ship departs Lisbon for Mediterranean ports and the Indian Ocean...

Plot Keywords:

Captain | Ocean | Cruise | Mediterranean | Vacation

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Leonor Silveira	...	Rosa Maria
Filipa de Almeida	...	Maria Joana
John Malkovich	...	Comandante John Walesa
Catherine Deneuve	...	Delfina
Stefania Sandrelli	...	Francesca
Irene Papas	...	Helena
Luís Miguel Cintra	...	Actor Português
Michel Lubrano di Sbaraglione	...	Pescador
François Da Silva	...	Cliente do Pescador
Nikos Hatzopoulos	...	Padre Ortodoxo
Antònio Ferraiolo	...	Cicerone Pompeia
Alparslan Salt	...	Cicerone Museu de Santa Sophia
Ricardo Trêpa	...	Oficial
David Cardoso	...	Oficial
Júlia Buisel	...	Amiga de Delfina

Also Known As:

A Talking Picture (International: English title)
Un film parlé (France)
Un film parlato (Italy)

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

Portugal | France | Italy

Language:

Portuguese | French | Italian | English | Greek

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Brazil:12 | Portugal:M/12

Filming Locations:

Athens, Greece

Company:

Madragoa Filmes

This is a good film, I did not find it boring

contrary to many of the reviews. I especially agree with the reviewer from Hong Kong, who stated that this is indeed, similar to real life, and he is in a multi-cultural city, where many languages are spoken.

Although I am from the U.S., I have traveled, and have experienced similar situations wherein people are acquainted. I guess one of the problems is that in the U.S., unless you are in one of the coastal cities, you are not familiar with multi-culturalism. This is sad, because I feel that Hollywood caters to the lowest common denominator in America (In Paris, for example, I do not think they would market "The Dukes of Hazzard"). I for one am tired of films which cater to the 12-17 year old demographic, or just the generally ignorant masses.

John Malkovich is interesting, and Leonor Silveira portrays a professor, traveling with her daughter. The cruise departs from Lisbon and is to arrive in Bombay, sometime later. We see some exquisitely filmed scenery, Apollo, Pompeii, Cairo.

Malkovich is the ship's captain, and has guests of honor at his table including the lovely Catherine Deneuve, Stefania Sandrelli, and Irene Pappas. Each woman represents a different culture, and they exchange ideas and ideologies with Malkovich. This is a very interesting and realistic portrayal of people's varying impressions. They discuss Greece, the origins of language, and religious ideology.

At one point Malkovich invites the professor, Silveira, and her daughter(Filipa de Almeida) to join his group at the table. He also purchases a doll at one of the ports of call, in Morocco, I believe, and there is a parallel story of countries, politics, and possessions, for which the doll is a metaphor.

You will see at the end of the film the significance of the doll, and the allegory it represents. Quite a good story, and a relief from the usual American movies we are bombarded with.