The Ascensor da Bica runs through the Lisbon neighbourhood of Misericórdia, offering arguably the most scenic rides of all
the city’s funiculars. It is here, in this quite traditional parish full of
salt-of-the-earth-types, that Edgar Pêra’s breakthrough work is set: a rustic,
fado-driven musical comedy – done the avant-garde way.
A janela (Maryalva mix) tells the story of Antonio, an old school Marialva (= a womanizer and barfly cruising the Fado taverns and back-alleys of Mouraria) who seems not to have
noticed that his type is history – but why would he care, if the half dozen
ladies he’s bedding don’t seem to mind? Now, Antonio is played by six actors, while a single comedienne plays all his paramours. No wonder then that A janela (Maryalva mix) is ripe with identity crises of all kinds: cultural, sexual, purely personal – you name it,
they act it out. What chaos! What delight! What laughs! And such saudade.
Film details
Country of production
Portugal
Year
2001
Festival edition
IFFR 2019
Length
87'
Medium/Format
35mm
Language
Portuguese
Premiere status
None
Director
Edgar Pêra
Producer
Edgar Pêra, Paulo Branco
Cinematography
Luís Branquinho
Editing
Inês Henriques, Pedro A. Machado
Principal cast
Lúcia Sigalho, Manuel João Vieira, Nuno Melo, Miguel Borges, José Wallenstein, João Didelet, Nuno Bizarro
Music
Artur Cyanetto, Tiago Alves, Paulo Pedro Gonçalves, Pedro Ayres Magalhães