Manoel de Oliveira
Born
December 11, 1908
Died
April 2, 2015 (106 years old)
Known For
Directing
Place of Birth
Porto, Portugal
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

Manoel de Oliveira, le cinéaste architecte
Self (archive) - cineast
2024

The Glory of Filmmaking in Portugal
Himself
2015

Henri Langlois vu par...
Self
2014

Biette
Self
2013

101
2012

Agnès Varda: From Here to There
Self · (5 episodes)
2011

Agnès Varda: From Here to There
Self
2011

Guest
Self
2011
Sem Cura - à saúde de Manoel de Oliveira
2011

Sodankylä Forever
Self
2010

Manoel de Oliveira, O Caso Dele
Himself
2007

The 15th Stone
Himself
2007

Christopher Columbus, The Enigma
Manuel Luciano (2007)
2007

No Tempo do Cinema
Himself
2006

Conversazione a Porto
2006

Jornal Português (1938-1951)
Self (archive footage)
2005

Agostinho da Silva - A Living Thought
Self
2003

Porto of My Childhood
Himself / Narrator / The Thief
2001

Inquietude
Tango Dancer
1998

Marcello Mastroianni: I Remember
Self
1997

Voyage to the Beginning of the World
Driver
1997

A Friendly Handshake
1997

Lisbon Story
Himself
1994

Zona+
Próprio · (1 episode)
1994

Visit, or Memories and Confessions
Self
1993

Oliveira, l'architecte
1993

The Divine Comedy
1991

No, or the Vain Glory of Command
Narrator
1990
Cinéma Portugais – Un Mode d'Emploi
1990

Já Está
Self · (1 episode)
1987

Nice - À propos de Jean Vigo
1983

The Conversation Is Over
Padre
1982
Cinématon XI
N°102
1981

Cinématon n°102 : Manoel de Oliveira
1981

Doomed Love
Narrator (voice)
1979

Cinématon
N°102
1978

Doomed Love
(voice) · (6 episodes)
1978

The Green Years
1963

A Song of Lisbon
Carlos
1933

Fátima Milagrosa
1928