Viagem ao princípio do mundo
(Voyage to the Beginning of the World)


Photo Courtesy of the Cannes Film Festival

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Afonso, a French actor, has a part in a Franco-Portugese co-production. His father emigrated from Portugal to France before the war.

Afonso expresses an interest in visiting the village his father came from. One of his aunts is still alive. The director of the film and two other actors accompany him on his quest, in order to interpret for him. They pass various different places where the director grew up. The director reminisces. He is particularly inspired by a statue of Pedro Macao which is an embodiment of human suffering.

When they reach the village, Afonso's aunt turns out to be less than forthcoming. She finds her new nephew hard to accept, particularly as she did not know of his existence and they have no language in common. Afonso points out that the same blood flows in their veins. In the end, the old aunt falls into her nephew's arms and embraces him.

Directed by: Manoel de Oliveira
Written by: Manoel de Oliveira
Starring: Leonor Silveira, Marcello Mastroianni, Jean-Yves Gautier, Diogo Dória, Isabel de Castro
Produced by: Paulo Branco
Original Music by: Emmanuel Nuñez