Past and Present Backdrop Blur
Past and Present Poster
7.3 1h 55m

Past and Present

This is an intriguing avant-garde look at what motivates the leisurely classes in Portugal, for better or worse, by director Manoel de Oliveira. Set in a spacious country home peopled with a wide-ranging cast of characters, the drama begins as the friends of a widow come to console her on the loss of her husband. But at one point, the widow goes upstairs, encounters her husband, and is faced with his accusations about the past. This event and others provide the means of revealing the petty, self-serving, egocentric, and romantic pursuits of the melange of people in the house. - Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

Top Cast

  • Maria de Saisset

    Maria de Saisset

    Vanda, a widow

  • Manuela de Freitas

    Manuela de Freitas

    Noémia

  • Bárbara Vieira

    Bárbara Vieira

    Angélica

  • Alberto Inácio

    Alberto Inácio

    Ricardo

  • Pedro Pinheiro

    Pedro Pinheiro

    Firmino

  • António Machado

    António Machado

    Maurício

  • João Bénard da Costa

    João Bénard da Costa

    Honório

  • José Martinho

    José Martinho

    Fernando

  • Alberto Branco

    Alberto Branco

    Doctor

Overview

This is an intriguing avant-garde look at what motivates the leisurely classes in Portugal, for better or worse, by director Manoel de Oliveira. Set in a spacious country home peopled with a wide-ranging cast of characters, the drama begins as the friends of a widow come to console her on the loss of her husband. But at one point, the widow goes upstairs, encounters her husband, and is faced with his accusations about the past. This event and others provide the means of revealing the petty, self-serving, egocentric, and romantic pursuits of the melange of people in the house. - Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

Rating

7.3 / 10
9 Reviews
0 Popular

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