Manoel de Oliveira
Directing
Born: December 11, 1908 · Porto, Portugal
Died: April 2, 2015 (aged 106)
Highest Rated
Biography
Manoel de Oliveira was born in Porto, Portugal on December 11, 1908, to Francisco José de Oliveira and Cândida Ferreira Pinto. His family were wealthy industrialists. Oliveira attended school in Galicia, Spain and his goal as a teenager was to become an actor. He enrolled in Italian film-maker Rino Lupo's acting school at age 20, but later changed his mind when he saw Walther Ruttmann's documentary Berlin: Symphony of a City. This prompted him to direct his first film, also a documentary, titledDouro, Faina Fluvial (1931). He also acted in the second Portuguese sound film, A Canção de Lisboa (1933). His first feature film came much later, in 1942. Aniki-Bóbó, a portrait of Oporto's street children, was a commercial failure when it opened, and its merit only came to be recognised over time. This drawback forced Oliveira to abandon other film projects he was involved in, and to dedicate himself to running his family vineyard. He re-emerged onto the film scene in 1956 with The Artist and the City, a work that marked a turning point in Oliveira's conception of the cinema. In 1963, O Acto de Primavera (The Rite of Spring), a documentary depicting an annual passion play, marked a turning point for his career. This was shortly followed by A caça (The Hunt), a grim feature film that contrasted with the happy tones of his previous documentary. Despite the widespread acclaim garnered by both films, he would not return to the director's seat until the 1970s. Since 1990 (when he turned 82), he has made at least one film each year. Oliveira has said that he direct movies for the sheer pleasure of doing it, regardless of critical reaction. He maintains a quiet life away from the spotlights, despite multiple honours such as those of the Cannes, Venice and Montreal film festivals. He has been awarded two Career Golden Lions in 1985 and 2004 and a golden palm for his lifetime achievements in 2008.
Known for
To Each His Own Cinema
2007
Lisbon Story
1994
The Strange Case of Angelica
2010
Aniki-Bóbó
1942
A Talking Picture
2003
I’m Going Home
2001
Abraham's Valley
1993
A Song of Lisbon
1933
Eccentricities of a Blonde-Haired Girl
2009
Working on the Douro River
1931
Francisca
1981
The Green Years
1963
Photos (4)
Movies (23)
Hitler in Hollywood
2011
Fátima Milagrosa
1928
A Talking Picture
2003
The Life of Mirrors
2025
No, or the Vain Glory of Command
Narrator
The Green Years
1963
The Divine Comedy
1991
Voyage to the Beginning of the World
Driver
Christopher Columbus, The Enigma
Manuel Luciano (2007)
Cinématon
N°102
The Satin Slipper
Gentleman bowing with hat
Benilde or the Virgin Mother
Screaming Madman (voice)
Doomed Love
Narrator (voice)
A Song of Lisbon
Carlos
Conversazione a Porto
2006
Inquietude
Tango Dancer
A Friendly Handshake
1997
Oliveira, l'architecte
1993
The Conversation Is Over
Padre
O Improvável Não é Impossível
(voice)
Nice - À propos de Jean Vigo
1983
101
2012
Cinématon n°102 : Manoel de Oliveira
1981
TV Shows (3)
Self / Appearances (17)
Ciné regards
Self · 1 eps
Agnès Varda: From Here to There
Self · 5 eps
Lisbon Story
Himself
Guest
Self
Henri Langlois vu par...
Self
Agnès Varda: From Here to There
Self
Já Está
Self · 1 eps
The 15th Stone
Himself
Marcello Mastroianni: I Remember
Self
Porto of My Childhood
Himself / Narrator / The Thief
Agostinho da Silva - A Living Thought
Self
Biette
Self
Visit, or Memories and Confessions
Self
The Glory of Filmmaking in Portugal
Himself
Jornal Português (1938-1951)
Self (archive footage)
No Tempo do Cinema
Himself
Manoel de Oliveira, O Caso Dele
Himself
Directing (63)
To Each His Own Cinema
Director
Day of Despair
Director
Famalicão
Director
Doomed Love
Director
The Uncertainty Principle
Director
As Pinturas do Meu Irmão Júlio
Director
I’m Going Home
Director
Rencontre Unique
Director
Party
Director
The Convent
Director
A Talking Picture
Director
Abraham's Valley
Director
Belle Toujours
Director
Aniki-Bóbó
Director
Acto da Primavera
Director
No, or the Vain Glory of Command
Director
Eccentricities of a Blonde-Haired Girl
Director
Gebo and the Shadow
Director
The Divine Comedy
Director
Francisca
Director
Invisible World
Director
The Old Man of Belem
Director
Voyage to the Beginning of the World
Director
The Letter
Director
Word and Utopia
Director
Christopher Columbus, The Enigma
Director
The Strange Case of Angelica
Director
The Cannibals
Director
Do Visível ao Invísivel
Director
The Satin Slipper
Director
White Coal
Director
Benilde or the Virgin Mother
Director
Porto of My Childhood
Director
Doomed Love
Director
The Fifth Empire
Director
My Case
Director
Blind Man's Bluff
Director
Magic Mirror
Director
Inquietude
Director
Portugal Já Faz Automóveis
Director
Historic Centre
Director
Miramar, Praia das Rosas
Director
Bread
Director
The Conquered Conqueror
Director
Visit, or Memories and Confessions
Director
A Friendly Handshake
Director
Moment
Director
Lisboa Cultural
Director
The Artist and the City
Director
O Poeta Doido, o Vitral e a Santa Morta
Director
Past and Present
Director
Working on the Douro River
Director
Lisbon statues
Director
Os Últimos Temporais - Cheias do Tejo
Director
Simpósio Internacional de Escultura em Pedra
Director
The Hunt
Director
O Improvável Não é Impossível
Director
Nice - À propos de Jean Vigo
Director
The Panels of São Vicente de Fora: A Poetic Vision
Director
Chafariz das Virtudes
Director
A Century of Energy
Director
Romance de Vila do Conde
Director
Villa Verdinho - Uma Aldeia Transmontana
Director
Writing (58)
To Each His Own Cinema
Writer
Day of Despair
Screenplay
Famalicão
Writer
Doomed Love
Writer
Doomed Love
Screenplay
The Uncertainty Principle
Screenplay
As Pinturas do Meu Irmão Júlio
Screenplay
I’m Going Home
Screenplay
Rencontre Unique
Screenplay
Party
Screenplay
The Convent
Writer
A Talking Picture
Writer
Abraham's Valley
Screenplay
Belle Toujours
Writer
Aniki-Bóbó
Screenplay
Acto da Primavera
Screenplay
No, or the Vain Glory of Command
Screenplay
Eccentricities of a Blonde-Haired Girl
Screenplay
Gebo and the Shadow
Screenplay
The Divine Comedy
Writer
The Divine Comedy
Screenplay
Francisca
Screenplay
Invisible World
Writer
The Old Man of Belem
Screenplay
Voyage to the Beginning of the World
Writer
The Letter
Screenplay
Word and Utopia
Writer
Christopher Columbus, The Enigma
Screenplay
The Strange Case of Angelica
Writer
The Cannibals
Screenplay
Do Visível ao Invísivel
Screenplay
The Satin Slipper
Screenplay
White Coal
Writer
Benilde or the Virgin Mother
Screenplay
Porto of My Childhood
Writer
Doomed Love
Screenplay
The Fifth Empire
Screenplay
My Case
Screenplay
Blind Man's Bluff
Adaptation
Blind Man's Bluff
Writer
Magic Mirror
Writer
Inquietude
Screenplay
Portugal Já Faz Automóveis
Writer
Historic Centre
Screenplay
Miramar, Praia das Rosas
Screenplay
Bread
Screenplay
The Conquered Conqueror
Screenplay
Visit, or Memories and Confessions
Screenplay
A Friendly Handshake
Screenplay
The Artist and the City
Screenplay
O Poeta Doido, o Vitral e a Santa Morta
Writer
Past and Present
Screenplay
Working on the Douro River
Writer
Lisbon statues
Screenplay
The Hunt
Writer
O Improvável Não é Impossível
Writer
The Panels of São Vicente de Fora: A Poetic Vision
Screenplay
Romance de Vila do Conde
Screenplay
Producing (13)
Famalicão
Producer
As Pinturas do Meu Irmão Júlio
Producer
Aniki-Bóbó
Co-Producer
Acto da Primavera
Producer
White Coal
Executive Producer
Portugal Já Faz Automóveis
Executive Producer
Miramar, Praia das Rosas
Executive Producer
Bread
Producer
The Artist and the City
Producer
O Poeta Doido, o Vitral e a Santa Morta
Producer
Past and Present
Producer
The Hunt
Producer
Romance de Vila do Conde
Producer
Other Crew (41)
Day of Despair
Editor
Famalicão
Sound
Doomed Love
Creator
The Uncertainty Principle
Editor
As Pinturas do Meu Irmão Júlio
Director of Photography
As Pinturas do Meu Irmão Júlio
Sound Designer
As Pinturas do Meu Irmão Júlio
Editor
The Convent
Editor
Abraham's Valley
Editor
Aniki-Bóbó
Editor
Acto da Primavera
Sound
Acto da Primavera
Director of Photography
Acto da Primavera
Editor
No, or the Vain Glory of Command
Editor
Eccentricities of a Blonde-Haired Girl
Editor
The Divine Comedy
Editor
The Cannibals
Editor
Do Visível ao Invísivel
Art Direction
Do Visível ao Invísivel
Editor
White Coal
Editor
Benilde or the Virgin Mother
Editor
Blind Man's Bluff
Editor
Portugal Já Faz Automóveis
Editor
Miramar, Praia das Rosas
Editor
Bread
Sound Designer
Bread
Editor
Bread
Director of Photography
Visit, or Memories and Confessions
Editor
Lisboa Cultural
Editor
The Artist and the City
Editor
The Artist and the City
Director of Photography
O Poeta Doido, o Vitral e a Santa Morta
Director of Photography
Past and Present
Editor
Working on the Douro River
Editor
Lisbon statues
Director of Photography
Os Últimos Temporais - Cheias do Tejo
Director of Photography
The Hunt
Director of Photography
The Hunt
Editor
The Hunt
Sound Designer
A Century of Energy
Director of Photography
Romance de Vila do Conde
Director of Photography