Mysteries of Lisbon

Mysteries Of Lisbon

Do you have 4 ½ hours to spare? Originally Mysteries Of Lisbon was a 6 hour television series in Portugal. It is an adaptation of a 19th century novel by Portuguese author, Camilo Castelo. I do feel it could have been edited even further and maintained its dignity. Director Raul Ruiz was ill while making this epic and unfortunately never made it to the showing at the Toronto Film Festival.(2010)
I felt I needed a program to keep all the characters straight. At times I was confused. This is an epic historical story that follows the life of a young bastard, Joao. He is the narrator of this complicated mammoth tale. He is living in an orphanage under the tutelage of Father Dinis. He is teased by the other boys because he does not know his father. He has a head injury and loses consciousness. He is visited by a beautiful woman who leaves him a present. The mother gives her son a diorama with paper moving characters. Throughout his life he makes up stories using this set and telling stories to himself.
We learn the sad story of this woman who really is his mother. She was a noble woman in love with a handsome young man and became pregnant with Joao. Her father, a Marquis, forced her to marry a nobleman. The husband treated her brutally and kept her locked up for years. When the husband dies he leaves her money. She refuses to take his money and goes to a convent for the rest of her life. Once again Joao is abandoned.
As he gets older he meets many noblemen and some beautiful women. It seems as if each character has his/ her own tale. Each character has secrets and some even have different identities. There is intrigue, seduction and surprises with each event in is life. Sometimes the story goes back in time to explain certain events in his life. This can be confusing. Each character that he meets seems to have a tale to tell. It is complicated and some of the characters overlap in their stories. Always Joao is searching to discover the truth about his father.
For my part it was a long afternoon of viewing the most magnificent costumes. I wasn’t bored for a minute. The elegant estates were lavish and magnificent. The cinematography got into the heart of the characters. The countryside and the lavish estates showed artful detail. Magnificent murals on the walls, elegant furniture, and elaborate candelabra kept me in awe.
I loved listening to the Portuguese and trying to understand it. Of course there were English subtitles. When Joao gets older he goes to France. At this point French is spoken.
At the beginning of the film it is stated that this is not a work of fiction. It is a diary of sufferings. Indeed it is. Everyone has a painful story. Some survive. Many die
There is one 10 minute intermission. Everybody seems to be enthralled and nobody left before the ending.
This is truly a historical epic. Be prepared to sit for a long time.