THE CANNIBALS
A film review by Thomas E. Billings
Copyright 1989 Thomas E. Billings
Screened at its U.S. premiere at the San Francisco International Film Festival (March 14, 1989).
Synopsis: Opera stars turn cannibal in this film, a parody of grand opera, with a savage (and frequently sick) sense of humor. Very strange!
Portugal/France (Portuguese with English subtitles), 1988, color, 100 minutes.
Director/Screenplay: Manoel de Oliveira (based on a work by Alvaro Carvalhal) Producer: Paolo Branco Principal Cast: Leonor Siveira, Luis Miguel Cintra, Diogo Doria Print Source: Portuguese Film Institute
This film is an opera about the romance (and eventual marriage) of a beautiful lady to a rather morose Viscount, while an intensely jealous rival suitor (his name is Don Juan) looks on from the sidelines. On the wedding night, a series of bizarre and grotesque events occur, after which there is a controversy over a well-charred roast -- could it be human?
The first hour of the film is rather tedious, as the Director spoofs all the conventions of "grand opera" and costume dramas. The film's narrator serves as a built-in critic at times, providing literary criticism of the story as well. However, the viewer's patience is rewarded, as the sick and savagely funny events occur in the last half-hour.
A few points should be noted. Although the first half is tedious at times, there is some rather corny humor in it to make it endurable. Devoted opera fans may be offended by this film, and the many delightful ways it pokes fun at (and insults) opera conventions. Also, note that some of the humor in the second half is pretty sick. There were times when half the audience was laughing, while the other half was gasping in horror.
Technical merits. The photography is excellent, the period costumes and sets (1700's, "grand opera") are superb, and there is careful attention to detail. The acting is relatively good, considering that it is "opera style" (i.e., exaggerated facial gestures). The production values are very high; this is not a cheap film!
My overall evaluation of this film: good to very good. Is it worth seeing? This depends on how you feel about opera, and your sense of humor. Can you stand to sit through about 1 hour of opera (low volume, very little of the wailing, shrieking, and bellowing that opera fans call "art") for a half hour of savagely funny humor? Of course, if you like opera, you might like the film's spoofing of opera (i.e., in which case you might like the first hour). I thought it was pretty funny, but I hate opera so much that I resented having to wait so long to get to the good parts! However, this is a film worthy of serious consideration.
Reviewer: Thomas E. Billings; Department of Statistics University of California, Berkeley Reviewer contact: teb@stat.Berkeley.EDU
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