Os Imortais (2003)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

António-Pedro Vasconcelos

Writers:

Claire Downs (additional writer)
António Tavares Teles (additional writer)

Release Date:

7 November 2003 (Portugal)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | War

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Joaquim de Almeida	...	Roberto Alua
Emmanuelle Seigner	...	Madeleine Durand
Nicolau Breyner	...	Joaquim Malarranha
Rogério Samora	...	Horácio Lobo
Rui Unas	...	Vitor Pratas
Filipe Duarte	...	Abel Cavaco
Joaquim Nicolau	...	Sérgio Mano
Paula Mora	...	Filó
Ana Padrão	...	Sara
Alexandra Lencastre	...	Maria Antónia
Maria Rueff	...	Severina
José Mora Ramos	...	Captain Alves
Carla Salgueiro	...	Dora
São José Correia	...	Inês
André Jung	...	Daniel Durand

Runtime:

Portugal:130 min

Country:

Portugal

Language:

Portuguese

Color:

Color

Certification:

Portugal:M/12

Filming Locations:

Albufeira, Algarve, Portugal

Company:

Animatógrafo II

Trivia:

The female singer we see in the bar where Roberto picks up Madeleine Durant is Patricia Vasconcelos, casting director and daughter of director António-Pedro Vasconcelos.

A landmark on Portuguese cinema.

"Os Imortais" is without a doubt one of the best, or probably, the best Portuguese film ever made. It certainly is a landmark on the Portuguese cinema's scene; this movie his worth every minute.

Every year, four ex-soldiers that call themselves "Os Imortais" (translated "The Immortals"), get together with four women to celebrate war deeds and to remember the old days, back in the war. On the summer of 1985, tired of their monotonous lives they decide to rob a bank. Joaquim Malarranha, a chief inspector from the local police about to retire, crosses their path and will spend his last days of duty trying to solve the robbery. But has he carries on with his investigation, he discovers more than he could ever think of.

A movie that focuses on strange and disturbing actions of ex-soldiers on their attempt to fit in the modern society and to mend errors committed in the past, and on a veteran cop who's about to leave his working-life behind.

João Pedro de Vasconcelos managed to assemble a cast with vast qualities; it's a pleasure to watch Nicolau Breyner's performance. The story is very solid and can really catch the viewer's attention; it keeps the anxiety of knowing what really happened during the robbery and the days that followed it.

"A bandit always forgets that there is, at least, another bandit smarter than him."