Manoel de Oliveira’s life reflected the history of cinema itself. The Portuguese director, who died on Thursday in Porto at the age of 106, was born in the era of silent cinema, made his first film in 1931, and directed his last movie, Gebo and the Shadow, in the digital age. It was released in 2012, when he was 103.
De Oliveira made more than 50 films and the world hasn't yet seen the last of him. He left instructions that Memories and Confessions, a movie made in 1982 about a house in which he lived for several years, should be released only after his death.
Over the decades, de Oliveira steadily poured out shorts, documentaries and features, many of which were feted on the film festival circuit. He embraced a range of concerns (his Catholic faith, doomed love, working-class lives, political repression) and storytelling styles (surrealism, farce, historicals, meta-narratives). He really hit his stride when he was well into his fifties, at a time when many of his peers were eyeing retirement. He is survived by his 96 year-old wife, Maria Carvalhair, and four children.
Here are three films made by the world’s oldest director.
Labour on the Duoro River (1931)
De Oliveira’s debut is a silent short about the industry that thrives along the Duoro river in his hometown, Porto.
The Strange Case of Angelica (2010)
A photographer’s portrait of a dead woman brings her back to life.
Lisbon Story
A clip from German director Wim Wenders’s Lisbon Story, an exploration of the city through fictional and real characters that include de Oliveira.
De Oliveira made more than 50 films and the world hasn't yet seen the last of him. He left instructions that Memories and Confessions, a movie made in 1982 about a house in which he lived for several years, should be released only after his death.
Over the decades, de Oliveira steadily poured out shorts, documentaries and features, many of which were feted on the film festival circuit. He embraced a range of concerns (his Catholic faith, doomed love, working-class lives, political repression) and storytelling styles (surrealism, farce, historicals, meta-narratives). He really hit his stride when he was well into his fifties, at a time when many of his peers were eyeing retirement. He is survived by his 96 year-old wife, Maria Carvalhair, and four children.
Here are three films made by the world’s oldest director.
Labour on the Duoro River (1931)
De Oliveira’s debut is a silent short about the industry that thrives along the Duoro river in his hometown, Porto.
The Strange Case of Angelica (2010)
A photographer’s portrait of a dead woman brings her back to life.
Lisbon Story
A clip from German director Wim Wenders’s Lisbon Story, an exploration of the city through fictional and real characters that include de Oliveira.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!