"Set in an unspecified modern age (no cellphone or computer on show, the story goes that de Oliveira germinates the script almost six decades earlier, in the 1940s, which can well account for the film's overall démodé tone), Sephardic photographer Isaac (Trêpa, a bland, even anemic leading man), lodging in a town near Porto, is hired to take some photographs of a young lady Angelica (de Ayala), who has just deceased and lies beatifically on her deathbed with an impeccable smile."

read my full review on my blog: cinema omnivore, thanks

I was informed before the showing that Director Manoel de Oliviera was over 100 years old when he directed this film. So I took that into consideration. That may be one of the reasons I did not walk out half way through the screening.

However, in retrospect, this is not a bad film, but one that is very personal (for the director) to the extent it may not connect with everyone. Many inserts to the film (e.g. the labourers in the field) may have no bearing to the story but they were there. And an average Joe like me couldn't understand the reason why they were there. Metaphor, poetry, or scenery diversion may be the reasons but I could not tell.

In a sense it is a story about a young photographer losing his mind, and eventually his health, as a result of the escalating obsession following an encounter with a beautiful, dead woman. That I can relate to. But the story could definitely be told in a more lively, and less arty fashion to appeal to a larger audience.

I wanted to see this movie so badly because of many other good films its director made in the past. But I was very disappointed. :( This movie is weak and has and absurd story.

The acting is not bad (what can they do anyway with the terrible lines they are sometimes given) and there are a couple of good moments. But all the ghost love story is just absurd and never starts in my opinion. It has an amateurish quality that plays against it.

What makes me angry is that this movie is sold as an art movie just because of its director. It is not. This is not poetic, it is just one bad movie.

Honestly, one to skip.