This is about as simple as a movie can be. Yet its simplicity is one of its strengths. This is a Portuguese film, spoken in Portuguese language. It's 100% made in Portugal. It was directed by Manoel de Oliveira, the world's oldest film director in activity and still doing films, even though he is now more than 100 years old. But, for someone in such an advanced age, he is in very good shape. That and the fact that he still has plans for the future is respectable, to say the least.
'Aniki-Bobó' is one of his earliest films. It wasn't well received when it came out, but time has been kinder to it. Truly a shame that, after all these years, this wonderful movie is still not available on DVD. The way I see it, they're waiting for the director to die to finally do it as a homage in his memory.
Our movie takes place in Porto city, the director's hometown. Porto has its own symbols, such as the Francesinhas, the Maria Pia bridge, the Port wine and the ex-libris Torre dos Clérigos. The movie is masterfully filmed, with great sceneries and almost entirely filmed in natural settings.
This classic film in black & white is about poor children in the streets of Porto and near the Douro River, where they live adventures, play games, socialize, use their imagination and sometimes have conflicts. It's a take on a childhood that has disappeared today, being pure, poetic, human, nostalgic, charming, funny and dramatic.
The movie's title comes from a rhyme of a children's game, which was already mentioned by one the reviewers here, so I won't say it all over again. As for the shop, (Loja das Tentações), it means "Shop of Temptations" in Portuguese.
Each cast member does a fine portrayal. In fact, this movie is almost entirely acted by kids. The kids have different personalities (for example: Carlitos is shy and reserved, Eduardo is naughty and the ruffian one, the little kid who is constantly stumbling is confident), but they get along well. It's not that they don't have some rivalries at times, but there is no swear, no major violence and no bad stuff.
This film anticipates the Italian neorealism in several ways. It's a small Portuguese masterpiece that should get more credit than it does. Almost everything in this movie works out in perfect harmony, despite its simplicity. And I like very much the typical accent from Porto city by the actors and the music in the film. It's difficult to understand at times, but with more viewings and if you put the sound louder, it's pretty easy to understand.
This should definitely be on Top 250.
'Aniki-Bobó' is one of his earliest films. It wasn't well received when it came out, but time has been kinder to it. Truly a shame that, after all these years, this wonderful movie is still not available on DVD. The way I see it, they're waiting for the director to die to finally do it as a homage in his memory.
Our movie takes place in Porto city, the director's hometown. Porto has its own symbols, such as the Francesinhas, the Maria Pia bridge, the Port wine and the ex-libris Torre dos Clérigos. The movie is masterfully filmed, with great sceneries and almost entirely filmed in natural settings.
This classic film in black & white is about poor children in the streets of Porto and near the Douro River, where they live adventures, play games, socialize, use their imagination and sometimes have conflicts. It's a take on a childhood that has disappeared today, being pure, poetic, human, nostalgic, charming, funny and dramatic.
The movie's title comes from a rhyme of a children's game, which was already mentioned by one the reviewers here, so I won't say it all over again. As for the shop, (Loja das Tentações), it means "Shop of Temptations" in Portuguese.
Each cast member does a fine portrayal. In fact, this movie is almost entirely acted by kids. The kids have different personalities (for example: Carlitos is shy and reserved, Eduardo is naughty and the ruffian one, the little kid who is constantly stumbling is confident), but they get along well. It's not that they don't have some rivalries at times, but there is no swear, no major violence and no bad stuff.
This film anticipates the Italian neorealism in several ways. It's a small Portuguese masterpiece that should get more credit than it does. Almost everything in this movie works out in perfect harmony, despite its simplicity. And I like very much the typical accent from Porto city by the actors and the music in the film. It's difficult to understand at times, but with more viewings and if you put the sound louder, it's pretty easy to understand.
This should definitely be on Top 250.