Manoel de Oliveira
- Known for
- Directing
- Born
- December 11, 1908
- Died
- April 2, 2015
- Birthplace
- Porto, Portugal
Manoel de Oliveira (11 December 1908 - 2 April 2015) was born in Porto, Portugal 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.
Filmography
The Life of Mirrors 2025
Actor
Jornal Português (1938-1951) 2015
as Self (archive footage)
The Glory of Filmmaking in Portugal 2015
as Himself
A Century of Energy 2015
Director of Photography, Director
Visit, or Memories and Confessions 2015
as Self, Director, Editor, Screenplay
The Old Man of Belem 2014
Director, Screenplay
Chafariz das Virtudes 2014
Director
Henri Langlois vu par... 2014
as Self
Biette 2013
as Self
Invisible World 2013
Director, Writer
Historic Centre 2012
Director, Screenplay
The Conquered Conqueror 2012
Director, Screenplay
Gebo and the Shadow 2012
Screenplay, Director
101 2012
Actor
Agnès Varda: From Here to There 2011
as Self
Hitler in Hollywood 2011
Actor
Guest 2011
as Self
- Sem Cura - à saúde de Manoel de Oliveira
Sem Cura - à saúde de Manoel de Oliveira 2011
Actor
The Strange Case of Angelica 2010
Writer, Director
The Panels of São Vicente de Fora: A Poetic Vision 2010
Director, Screenplay
Eccentricities of a Blonde-Haired Girl 2009
Editor, Screenplay, Director
O Poeta Doido, o Vitral e a Santa Morta 2008
Director of Photography, Producer, Director, Writer
Romance de Vila do Conde 2008
Director, Screenplay, Producer, Director of Photography
Manoel de Oliveira, O Caso Dele 2007
as Himself
To Each His Own Cinema 2007
Director, Writer
The 15th Stone 2007
as Himself
Christopher Columbus, The Enigma 2007
as Manuel Luciano (2007), Director, Screenplay
Rencontre Unique 2007
Director, Screenplay
Belle Toujours 2006
Director, Writer
O Improvável Não é Impossível 2006
as (voice), Writer, Director
No Tempo do Cinema 2006
as Himself
Magic Mirror 2006
Director, Writer
Conversazione a Porto 2006
Actor
Do Visível ao Invísivel 2005
Screenplay, Art Direction, Editor, Director
The Fifth Empire 2004
Director, Screenplay
A Talking Picture 2003
Actor, Director, Writer
Agostinho da Silva - A Living Thought 2003
as Self
The Uncertainty Principle 2002
Director, Editor, Screenplay
Moment 2002
Director
Porto of My Childhood 2001
as Himself / Narrator / The Thief, Director, Writer
I’m Going Home 2001
Director, Screenplay
Word and Utopia 2000
Writer, Director
The Letter 1999
Director, Screenplay
Inquietude 1998
as Tango Dancer, Director, Screenplay
Marcello Mastroianni: I Remember 1997
as Self
Voyage to the Beginning of the World 1997
as Driver, Director, Writer
A Friendly Handshake 1997
Actor, Director, Screenplay
Party 1996
Director, Screenplay
The Convent 1995
Director, Writer, Editor
Lisbon Story 1994
as Himself
Blind Man's Bluff 1994
Adaptation, Director, Editor, Writer
Oliveira, l'architecte 1993
Actor
Abraham's Valley 1993
Director, Screenplay, Editor
Day of Despair 1992
Director, Editor, Screenplay
The Divine Comedy 1991
Actor, Writer, Editor, Screenplay, Director
No, or the Vain Glory of Command 1990
as Narrator, Director, Screenplay, Editor
- Cinéma Portugais – Un Mode d'Emploi
Cinéma Portugais – Un Mode d'Emploi 1990
Actor
- A Propósito da Bandeira Nacional
A Propósito da Bandeira Nacional 1988
Producer, Director
The Cannibals 1988
Director, Editor, Screenplay
My Case 1986
Director, Screenplay
Simpósio Internacional de Escultura em Pedra 1986
Director
The Satin Slipper 1986
as Gentleman bowing with hat, Director, Screenplay
Lisboa Cultural 1984
Editor, Director
Nice - À propos de Jean Vigo 1983
Actor, Director
The Conversation Is Over 1982
as Padre
Francisca 1981
Director, Screenplay
Cinématon n°102 : Manoel de Oliveira 1981
Actor
- Cinématon XI
Cinématon XI 1981
as N°102
Doomed Love 1979
as Narrator (voice), Director, Screenplay
Cinématon 1978
as N°102
Benilde or the Virgin Mother 1975
as Screaming Madman (voice), Screenplay, Editor, Director
Past and Present 1972
Director, Producer, Editor, Screenplay
As Pinturas do Meu Irmão Júlio 1965
Screenplay, Director, Director of Photography, Sound Designer, Producer, Editor
Villa Verdinho - Uma Aldeia Transmontana 1964
Director
The Hunt 1964
Director, Director of Photography, Writer, Editor, Producer, Sound Designer
The Green Years 1963
Actor
Acto da Primavera 1963
Director, Sound, Screenplay, Producer, Director of Photography, Editor
Bread 1959
Director, Producer, Sound Designer, Editor, Screenplay, Director of Photography
The Artist and the City 1956
Director, Editor, Screenplay, Producer, Director of Photography
Aniki-Bóbó 1942
Director, Co-Producer, Editor, Screenplay
Famalicão 1941
Director, Writer, Producer, Sound
Miramar, Praia das Rosas 1938
Director, Screenplay, Editor, Executive Producer
Portugal Já Faz Automóveis 1938
Editor, Executive Producer, Director, Writer
Os Últimos Temporais - Cheias do Tejo 1937
Director, Director of Photography
A Song of Lisbon 1933
as Carlos
Lisbon statues 1932
Director, Director of Photography, Screenplay
White Coal 1932
Executive Producer, Editor, Director, Writer
Working on the Douro River 1931
Director, Writer, Editor
Fátima Milagrosa 1928
Actor
Credits from TMDB.