The Baron

  • 94'
  • Portugal
  • 2011
In Lisbon during WWII, a group of film makers began filming the unmistakeably Kafkaesque novel O Barão (The Baron) by Branquinho da Fonseca. However, the repressive Portuguese regime destroyed all the footage. In The Baron, director Pêra revives the project on the basis of the original script.
A school inspector travels to the baron's fiefdom to write a report on a heathen teacher. Having arrived, he is invited to stay with the baron, who makes predictions about women, horses and politics while the mysterious Idalina serves food and drink. The inspector becomes inextricably entangled in the baron's world.
Pêra uses expressionist studio settings à la James Whale, a musical score reminiscent of Angelo Badalamenti, theatrical make-up, classical shadow play and editing to achieve a superior mix of pre-war Russian cinema, German expressionism, silent movies and American gothic. And at least one dance number.
  • 94'
  • Portugal
  • 2011
Director
Edgar Pêra
Premiere
World premiere
Country of production
Portugal
Year
2011
Festival Edition
IFFR 2011
Length
94'
Medium
HDcam
Original title
O barão
Language
Portuguese
Producer
Ana Costa
Production Company
Cinemate
Sales
Cinemate
Screenplay
Edgar Pêra, Luísa Costa Gomes, based on the novel by Branquinho da Fonseca
Cinematography
Luís Branquinho
Editor
Edgar Pêra, Tiago Antunes, João Gomes
Production Design
Fernando Areal
Sound Design
Tiago Raposinho
Music
Vozes da Rádio
Cast
Nuno Melo, Marina Albuquerque, Marcos Barbosa, Vítor Correia, Leonor Keil, Jorge Prendas, Rogério Rosa
Website
https://edgarpera.org
Director
Edgar Pêra
Premiere
World premiere
Country of production
Portugal
Year
2011
Festival Edition
IFFR 2011
Length
94'
Medium
HDcam
Original title
O barão
Language
Portuguese
Producer
Ana Costa
Production Company
Cinemate
Sales
Cinemate
Screenplay
Edgar Pêra, Luísa Costa Gomes, based on the novel by Branquinho da Fonseca
Cinematography
Luís Branquinho
Editor
Edgar Pêra, Tiago Antunes, João Gomes
Production Design
Fernando Areal
Sound Design
Tiago Raposinho
Music
Vozes da Rádio
Cast
Nuno Melo, Marina Albuquerque, Marcos Barbosa, Vítor Correia, Leonor Keil, Jorge Prendas, Rogério Rosa
Website
https://edgarpera.org