Module description
This module examines filmic representations of social, political, and historical events in Portugal and Brazil, focusing on efforts by directors and producers in both countries to articulate questions about history, memory, and national identity. Some of the key concepts we will engage with include race, gender, post-colonialism, coloniality, social inequality, memory, and identity.
The module starts with films produced during the Portuguese dictatorial regime (Comédias à Portuguesa). Then we will discuss how in the 60s and 70s, Cinema Novo, both in Brazil and Portugal, aimed to create a new cinematic language able to challenge 1950s’ mainstream productions. Then we will consider Brazilian retomada (new wave) in the 90s and discuss new trends in contemporary cinema. In the case of Portugal, we will discuss how the films produced after the Revolução dos Cravos (Carnation Revolution) of 1974 address the collective trauma of the colonial wars in Africa (1961-74) while reassessing history critically.
Assessment details
- Film review (500 words): 15%
- Essay plan (formative)
- 1x 2500 words essay: 85%
Educational aims & objectives
At the end of this module students will not only have a better knowledge of the Brazilian and Portuguese Cinema, but also a greater insight into historical and political issues that had a critical impact in shaping contemporary debates in both countries.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students will be able to demonstrate intellectual, transferable, and practical skills appropriate to a Level 5 module and in particular will be able to demonstrate:
- Knowledge of key themes in Brazilian and Portuguese cinema and their respective contexts;
- The ability to manipulate conceptual frameworks for analysing representations of collective memory, and traumatic political and social phenomena in contemporary cinema in Brazil and Portugal;
- The ability to employ appropriate autonomous research strategies in order to plan and complete the module assessment.
Teaching pattern
two hours per week plus film screenings
Suggested reading list
Core Films may include
- The Courtyard of the Ballads/ O Pátio das Cantigas (1942), dir. Francisco Ribeiro.
- Entranced Earth/ Terra em Transe (1967), dir. Glauber Rocha.
- How Tasty Was My Little Frenchman /Como Era Gostoso o Meu Francês (1971), dir. Nelson Pereira dos Santos.
- A Bee in the Rain/ Uma Abelha na Chuva (1972), dir. Fernando Lopes.
- Non, or the vain glory of command/ Non, ou a vã glória de mandar (1990), dir. Manoel de Oliveira.
- Foreign Land / Terra Estrangeira (1995), dir. Daniela Thomas and Walter Salles
- The murmuring coast / Costa dos Murmúrios (2004), dir. Margarida Cardoso.
- The Second Mother/ Que horas ela volta? (2015), dir. Anna Muylaert
No knowledge of Portuguese language is required. All films have subtitles in English.