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.
Film details
- Country of production
- Portugal
- Year
- 2011
- Festival edition
- IFFR 2011
- Length
- 94"
- Medium/Format
- HDcam
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