How to cope with the “forever” when that lead us to an unwanted goodbye? How to keep the departed close without the anguish of a heavy heart? What will be left of us after our loved ones bid their final farewell? This short film opens up an old wound while trying to heal a new one. Can we live with both?
Our short film depicts an elderly man during Christmas eve that, triggered by old memories of his long lost relatives, returns to his childhood years. Script development was based on the work of Portuguese poet José Luís Peixoto “Na hora de pôr a mesa, éramos cinco” (“The table is always set to the five of us”).
In addition to the fact that this author is unavoidable in the Portuguese literary scene, he offers, in his work, a very particular and, at the same time, very universal vision of the processes of birth and growth of man as a human being. At the same time, it reflects on the importance of who are around us and how their existence definitely contributes to what we have become, prompting the reader to think about the impact of human relationships and the true role of what we call "family".
na hora de pôr a mesa, éramos cinco.
With this short film we intend, on the one hand, to spread Portuguese cinema and, on the other, to promote the national material and immaterial heritage. The entire story is set in the 19th century, in the year 1840, and, therefore, filmed in a Portuguese palace from the same period, converting this project into a period short film. With this temporal choice, we want to show nationally and internationally the richness of Portuguese material heritage, which should be widely known and visited, as well as the capacities of national production teams, creating aesthetic production value. We believe that this project allows us to materialize these ambitions and, through it, celebrate Portuguese culture at various levels: literary, cinematographic, heritage. And to show that, starting from a simple poem, an honest and unpretentious cinematographic exercise can be done, having as its epicenter a reflection on something that is not chosen, but that marks us forever: the family.
However, what we have left over in enthusiasm and tenacity we lack in budget – and that's where everyone can collaborate. We want you to be part of this project, to set the table with us, and, therefore, every participation will have a special place in our family. We are counting on each one of you, and on your generous contribution, so that together we can make this film.
Meet the cast:
Ricardo Soares - Constantino
Beatriz Frazão - Sister
Magdalene Aragon - Sister
Eduardo Pinela - Father
Nazaré Pinela - Mother
