The Strange Case of Angelica (2010)
"O Estranho Caso de Angélica" (original title)

A photographer is asked by hotel owners to take portraits of their recently deceased daughter.

Director:

Manoel de Oliveira

Writer:

Manoel de Oliveira (screenplay)

Stars:

Pilar López de Ayala, Filipe Vargas, Leonor Silveira

Cast

Credited cast:
Pilar López de Ayala	...	Angélica
Filipe Vargas	...	Marido
Leonor Silveira	...	Mãe
Ricardo Trêpa	...	Isaac
Ana Maria Magalhães	...	Clementina
Isabel Ruth	...	Criada
Luís Miguel Cintra	...	Engenheiro
José Manuel Mendes	...	Dr. Matias
Carmen Santos	...	Mulher do Fotógrafo
Sofia de Portugal	...	Enfermeira
Ricardo Aibéo	...	Mendigo
Paulo Matos	...	Homem da Gabardine
Adelaide Teixeira	...	Justina
António Reis	...	António
Sara Carinhas	...	Freira

Storyline

A photographer is asked by hotel owners to take portraits of their recently deceased daughter.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Official Sites:

The Cinema Guild [us]

Country:

Portugal Spain France Brazil

Language:

Portuguese

Release Date:

16 March 2011 (France)

Also Known As:

The Strange Case of Angelica

Box Office

Budget:

€2,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$7,499 (USA) (31 December 2010)

Gross:

$47,743 (USA) (6 May 2011)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Les Films de l'Après-Midi, Eddie Saeta S.A., Filmes do Tejo

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The role of the engineer was originally created as a female character and Fernanda Montenegro was supposed to play the part.

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Goofs

Isaac does photographic darkroom work in an undarkened room.

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Connections

Featured in Estrenos Críticos: (Piloto) Bestezuelas, Piratas del Caribe 4... (2011)

User Reviews

A ghost story - sort of

I was informed before the showing that Director Manoel de Oliviera was over 100 years old when he directed this film. So I took that into consideration. That may be one of the reasons I did not walk out half way through the screening.

However, in retrospect, this is not a bad film, but one that is very personal (for the director) to the extent it may not connect with everyone. Many inserts to the film (e.g. the labourers in the field) may have no bearing to the story but they were there. And an average Joe like me couldn't understand the reason why they were there. Metaphor, poetry, or scenery diversion may be the reasons but I could not tell.

In a sense it is a story about a young photographer losing his mind, and eventually his health, as a result of the escalating obsession following an encounter with a beautiful, dead woman. That I can relate to. But the story could definitely be told in a more lively, and less arty fashion to appeal to a larger audience.