The Cannibals

The Cannibals

A drama following stories of characters from the Portuguese High Society.

1988 · 95 min · ★ 7.0 · Drama, Fantasy

This odd film is a major representative of an even odder film genre: direct-to-celluloid opera. It was commissioned by the Portuguese master of style, director Manoel de Oliveira from composer João Paes. Musically, it ranges from 19th-century romanticism to popular, modernist and even "post-modernist" styles. In the initially tame story, a host-narrator tells the story of a wedding between the two lovebirds: Viscount d'Aveleda and the beautiful Marguerite. However, what happens in the bridal chamber is incredibly bizarre. The events after that are even stranger, and the wedding guests and family indulge in cannibalism, among other perversions.

Directed by Manoel de Oliveira · Written by João Paes

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Cast

Luís Miguel Cintra Viscount d'Aveleda
Leonor Silveira Margarida
Diogo Dória Don João
Oliveira Lopes The Presenter (lago)
Pedro T. da Silva Niccolo
Joel Costa Urbano Solar
Rogério Samora Peralta
Rogério Vieira The Magistrate
António Loja Neves The Baron
Luís Madureira
Teresa Côrte-Real
José Manuel Mendes

Make it a double feature

4h 59m together

The Cannibals

Abraham's Valley

Both from Manoel de Oliveira.

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