Abraham's Valley

Abraham's Valley
Portuguese theatrical release poster
PortugueseVale Abraão
Directed byManoel de Oliveira
Screenplay byManoel de Oliveira
Based onThe novel by Agustina Bessa-Luís
Produced byPaulo Branco
Starring
Narrated byMário Barroso
CinematographyMário Barroso
Edited byManoel de Oliveira
Valérie Loiseleux
Production
companies
  • Madragoa Filmes
  • Gemini Films
  • Light Night
Release dates
  • May 1993 (1993-05) (Cannes)
  • 15 October 1993 (1993-10-15) (Portugal)
Running time
187 minutes
203 minutes (director's cut)[1]
Countries
  • Portugal
  • France
  • Switzerland
LanguagePortuguese

Abraham's Valley (Portuguese: Vale Abraão) is a 1993 Portuguese drama film written and directed by Manoel de Oliveira, based on the novel of same name by Agustina Bessa-Luís, which is partially inspired by Gustave Flaubert's 1857 novel Madame Bovary.[2][3] It stars Leonor Silveira, Luís Miguel Cintra and Ruy de Carvalho.

The film had its world premiere at the Directors' Fortnight section of the 1993 Cannes Film Festival, under the 3-hour cut initially edited aiming a main competition slot at the festival.[4] It was theatrically released in Portugal on 15 October 1993.

It was selected as the Portuguese entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 66th Academy Awards, but was not nominated.[5][6]

Plot

Set in mid-20th century Portugal, in the vicinity of Lamego, Ema is a beautiful young girl who is married off to Carlos, an older doctor and friend of her father's. Dissatisfied, she takes several lovers.[7][8]

Cast

  • Leonor Silveira as Ema Cardeano Paiva
    • Cécile Sanz de Alba as Young Ema
  • Luís Miguel Cintra as Carlos Paiva
  • Ruy de Carvalho as Paulino Cardeano, Ema's father
  • Luís Lima Barreto as Pedro Luminares
  • Micheline Larpin as Simona
  • Diogo Dória as Fernando Osório
  • José Pinto as Caires
  • Filipe Cochofel as Fortunato

Production

Abraham's Valley was filmed in 1.66:1 on 35 mm film by cinematographer Mário Barroso.[1]

Release

A restoration of the "Director's cut" (203 minutes version), ordered by the Cinemateca Portuguesa, had its world premiere once again at the Directors' Fortnight section of 2023 Cannes Film Festival.[9] Leonor Silveira was also the face of that year section's poster.

It was re-released in Portuguese theaters on 2 April 2025 by Nitrato Filmes.[10]

Reception

Accolades and screenings

It won the Critics Award at the 1993 São Paulo International Film Festival and the Best Artistic Contribution Award at the 1993 Tokyo International Film Festival.[11] It was screened at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival for the film's 30th anniversary.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Abraham's Valley (1993) - IMDb" – via www.imdb.com.
  2. ^ Canby, Vincent (October 5, 1993). "Review/Film Festival; Following Flaubert, An Eminent Director Finds a Fresh Ema". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
  3. ^ Andrew, Geoff (June 1, 2001). Film: The Critics' Choice : 150 Masterpieces of World Cinema Selected and Defined by the Experts. Aurum Press. ISBN 9781854107985 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ Câmara, Vasco (2023-03-30). "Cannes homenageia Vale Abraão na Quinzena dos Cineastas". PÚBLICO (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2025-09-23.
  5. ^ Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
  6. ^ Frook, John Evan (30 November 1993). "Acad inks Cates, unveils foreign-language entries". Variety. Archived from the original on 8 February 2013. Retrieved 25 August 2008.
  7. ^ Bruhn, Jorgen (11 July 2013). Adaptation Studies. A&C Black. ISBN 9781441192660.
  8. ^ "Abraham's Valley (1993)" – via letterboxd.com.
  9. ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (18 April 2023). "Cannes Directors' Fortnight Unveils 2023 Line-Up: Michel Gondry, Hong Sangsoo, 'Good Time' DoP Sean Price Williams Make Cut – Full List & Film Details". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 18 April 2023. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  10. ^ Lusa, Agência. "Filme "Vale Abraão" volta aos cinemas em abril para assinalar dez anos da morte de Manoel de Oliveira". Observador (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2025-09-23.
  11. ^ Craddock, James M.; Gale (Firm), Thomson (June 1, 2008). The Video Source Book: A Guide to Programs Currently Available on Video in the Areas Of: Movies/entertainment, General Interest/education, Sports/recreation, Fine Arts, Health/science, Business/industry, Children/juvenile, how To/instruction. Thomson Gale. ISBN 9781414401003 – via Google Books.
  12. ^ "La Quinzaine des Cinéastes, du 17 au 26 mai 2023 à Cannes". France tv & vous (in French). Retrieved 2024-06-11.
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