Os Faroleiros

Synopsis

Premiered in 1922, it is the first production of the Porto-based Caldevilla Film, founded by the pioneer Raul de Caldevilla (1877–1951). *OS FAROLEIROS* is one of the most ambitious films produced in Portugal during this period. Filmed in studio and on natural locations (Guincho, Cabo da Roca, Costa da Caparica) by the Frenchman Maurice Mariaud (1875–1958), who both directed and acted, it was considered lost for decades until it was discovered in 1993 at the Palácio do Bolhão in Porto — where the producer’s company had its headquarters.

In a fishing community, a love triangle emerges. After losing her father at sea, Rosa is taken in by the lighthouse keeper João Vidal. António Gaspar, also a lighthouse keeper, loves Rosa. His jealousy of João Vidal leads to the young woman’s death, an act that António’s mother helped to cover up. Fate then forces the two men to spend a period together in an isolated lighthouse at sea.

The new digital copy includes a new musical score for Os Faroleiros, commissioned by the Batalha Centro de Cinema through the FILMar project, composed by Daniel Moreira and performed by the Arditti Quartet: Irvine Arditti (violin), Ashot Sarkissjan (violin), Lucas Fels (cello), and Ralf Ehlers (viola).