Jose Eduardo Movies
- 1998
Joao Botelho wrote and directed this Portuguese-French-Danish comedy with a theme of money and a cobweb of interrelated tales. Young Jesus (Joaquim Oliviera) is taken on a vacation by his parents (Rita Blanco, Adriano Luz) to a deserted beach resort. They accidentally fall into overnight wealth after Jesus digs in the sand, uncovering a large drug stash. Others characters intersecting here include an alcoholic actress, a philandering banker, a general trafficking in arms, priests who close their church and head north as hitchhikers, politicians who watch an all-girl production of Julius Caesar, and beggars who recite a children's story in a huge heap of trash. Shown in competition at the 1998 Venice Film Festival and the 1998 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joaquim Oliveira, Adriano Luz, (more)
- 1998
One of Portugal's most popular films of 1998, and the winner of three of that country's Golden Globe awards ("Best Film," "Best Actor" for Joaquim de Almeida, and "Best Director" for Joaquim Leitão), this drama recounts the tragic story of a Catholic priest who finds himself unable to resist the temptation offered by a troubled woman trying to start a new life. Set in Vila Daires, a small northern Portugal town, it begins with Lena's release from jail. A hardcore drug addict, Lena (Cristina Camara) immediately takes up where she left off. Wanting to help Lena, Father Antonio (Almeida) offers to give her swimming lessons. Though all is done innocently and with the best intentions, the two quickly become close friends, something the townsfolk find shocking. Still, the friendship persists, and just when it looks like Father Antonio is having a positive effect on Lena, a tragedy befalls her family, sending Lena into a self-destructive tailspin that causes the compassionate Father Antonio to cross the line between them and leading both characters to tragedy. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joaquim de Almeida, Cristina Camara, (more)
- 1997
Set in 1949 Portugal when the country was under strict right-wing government, this drama follows the flight of a 19-year-old political fugitive and the resourceful but mysterious older man who agrees to help him get out of the country. The precise reasons why young Andre, who was involved with a revolutionary movement, was put into prison is never clarified. After his escape from prison, Andre is introduced to the button-down Lambaca. He is not what Andre was expecting, and he does not completely trust the gun-toting Lambaca, but with everything to lose -- including the fortune in cash he carries upon him -- the youth has no choice but to follow him. As the difficult trek into the north continues, Andre's trepidation mounts. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1996
Set in the 17th century, this earnest religious drama follows the struggle of the Catholic church to establish itself in Japan. Through missionaries and young Japanese converts, the Church seems about to solidify its position in the Nagasaki area when a Shogun, wanting to protect Japanese culture and traditions, rebels, and orders the slaying of four Japanese priests. The story then jumps to modern times and centers on Jane Powell, a lovely European cultural commissary who has come to Nagasaki to see a new opera about the killings by Edward Ishita. The story of one of the priests who is tortured while the Shogun attempts to force him to give up his faith unfolds in even greater detail as she visits the city's historical sites and muses upon the city's changes since her last visit. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
