Sunday at the International Film Festival Chicagoland Final Edition

* "Magic Mirror" ("O Espelho Magico") *** (Manoel de Oliveira, Portugal). Based on the novel "The Soul of the Rich" by Agustina Bessa-Luis -- one of the director's favorite writers -- this immaculately conceived and lovingly realized religious- psychological drama...

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Published inChicago tribune (1963)
Main Author Michael Wilmington, Michael Phillips and Michael Esposito
Format Newspaper Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Chicago, Ill Tribune Publishing Company, LLC 16.10.2005
Subjects
Motion picture festivals
Motion pictures
Multiple review
Chicago Illinois
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Summary:* "Magic Mirror" ("O Espelho Magico") *** (Manoel de Oliveira, Portugal). Based on the novel "The Soul of the Rich" by Agustina Bessa-Luis -- one of the director's favorite writers -- this immaculately conceived and lovingly realized religious- psychological drama follows most of the stylistic norms for its 96- year-old writer-director, silent-film veteran De Oliveira. It's written in highly intellectual, literate speeches, often dealing with weighty issues, the acting is theatrical and deliberately non- realistic, and it's shot against ornate backgrounds in elegantly composed tableaux, often accompanied by classical music. (Saint- Saens, Tchaikovsky, Bach). "Mirror" is about an eccentric, seemingly soulful rich lady, Alfreda (Leonor Silveira), obsessed with gaining a vision of the Virgin Mary, and her wily ex-con servant (Ricardo Trepa), who decides to give the Lord a hand. Not for all tastes, especially those who dislike long, slow films full of wordy dialogue, but it's vintage De Oliveira and, in its special way, magnificent: the latest work of a cinematic legend. De Oliveira is scheduled for a rare American personal appearance with the film. (In French, Spanish and Portuguese, with English subtitles.) 2 p.m., Sun. Landmark. -- M.W.
ISSN:1085-6706