A Talking Picture
A meditation on civilization. July, 2001: friends wave as a cruise ship departs Lisbon for Mediterranean ports and the Indian Ocean. On board and on day trips in Marseilles, Pompeii, Athens, Istanbul, and Cairo, a professor tells her young daughter about myth, history, religion, and wars. Men approach her; she's cool, on her way to her husband in Bombay. After Cairo, for two evenings divided by a stop in Aden, the captain charms three successful, famous (and childless) women, who talk with wit and intellect, each understanding the others' native tongue, a European union. The captain asks mother and child to join them. He gives the girl a gift. Helena sings. Life can be sweet.
Where to watch
Not streaming anywhere
Not on any streaming service in United States, and not available to rent.
Your rating
Your review
Cast
11 people
Manoel de Oliveira Director · Emmanuel Machuel Cinematographer Valérie Loiseleux Editor
Worldwide gross $20K · First release August 31, 2003 · Produced in Portugal, Italy, France
Box office
Worldwide gross
$20,312
Production
France 2 Cinéma
Production
Gemini Films
Production
Madragoa Filmes
Production
Mikado Film
Production
Portugal · Italy · France
Produced in
Languages
Original title
Um Filme Falado
Original language
Portuguese
Spoken on screen
English · French · Greek · Italian · Portuguese
Release dates
Italy · August 31, 2003
Theatrical
Portugal · October 17, 2003
Theatrical
No release date listed for United States.
Brazil
December 17, 2004 · Theatrical
More from Manoel de Oliveira
Other films they directed, best known first.
If you liked A Talking Picture
Picks that share its genres, themes, cast and crew.
Some details come from TheTVDB.