08/12/2005

After Who are you? (2001), adapted from Almeida Garrett's 19th century play "Frei Luís de Sousa", Portuguese filmmaker João Botelho returned to another classic of literature as a starting point for the 10th title of his career. The Fatalist [+see also:
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"How wonderful it is to work on a text like this at a time when thinking is a crime, when the powerful try to tarnish human dignity when they arouse the spectre of the clash of civilizations or the crappy and sinister war of religions", states Botelho "The aim: to cover up the only thing that moves the world, the class struggle". The film follows a chauffeur and his boss taking a trip all over the country. A pretext for a social satire disguised as a surrealistic road movie, The Fatalist was selected for the latest festivals of Venice (read the article), São Paulo, Toronto and Sevilla. Coproduced by Madragoa and Gémini Films, which also handles the international sales, with the support of ICAM and RTP, the film opens today in 10 theatres, distributed by Atalanta.

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