Island of the Absent
by José Vieira
Documentary, 2016, 60′
It is a strange journey that brings those who left back to the country of their childhood.
In this road-movie of fifteen hundred kilometers, there is the memory of a prolonged absence, the memory of journeys from which we have not returned.
It is a tour of questions about the relationship that binds us to the country of our childhood, to those who remained.
In this road-movie of fifteen hundred kilometers, there is the memory of a prolonged absence, the memory of journeys from which we have not returned.
It is a tour of questions about the relationship that binds us to the country of our childhood, to those who remained.
Written, Directed and Edited by: José Vieira
Cinematography: José Vieira
With: Bruno Léonelli
Producer: Ansgar Schaefer
Production: Kintop, Supersonic films
- IndieLisboa Film Festival 2016
- Espalha-Fitas Film Festival
- Filmes do Homem International Film Festival- Melgaço
- Lisbon & Sintra Film Festival (November 2017)
Born in Oliveira de Frades, Portugal, José Vieira emigrated to France in 1965, at the age of seven. Since 1985, stimulated by the political transformations in Portugal and by belonging to solidarity movements with immigrants, he made about thirty documentaries for France 2, France 3, Cinquième and Arte, drawing the picture of immigration in France based on his personal experience and individual stories.
The enormous difficulties experienced by Portuguese immigrants – life in slums, employers’ scams, discrimination and contempt – motivated José Vieira to reconstitute a collective memory and a common history for all those people, regardless of their origin, explaining the reasons that led them to leave their country and fight for a better life.
Extract from the catalogue LEFFEST’20
Synopsis
It is a strange journey that brings those who left back to the country of their childhood.
In this road-movie of fifteen hundred kilometers, there is the memory of a prolonged absence, the memory of journeys from which we have not returned.
It is a tour of questions about the relationship that binds us to the country of our childhood, to those who remained.
In this road-movie of fifteen hundred kilometers, there is the memory of a prolonged absence, the memory of journeys from which we have not returned.
It is a tour of questions about the relationship that binds us to the country of our childhood, to those who remained.
Credits
Written, Directed and Edited by: José Vieira
Cinematography: José Vieira
With: Bruno Léonelli
Producer: Ansgar Schaefer
Production: Kintop, Supersonic films
Festivals & Screenings
- IndieLisboa Film Festival 2016
- Espalha-Fitas Film Festival
- Filmes do Homem International Film Festival- Melgaço
- Lisbon & Sintra Film Festival (November 2017)
José Vieira
Born in Oliveira de Frades, Portugal, José Vieira emigrated to France in 1965, at the age of seven. Since 1985, stimulated by the political transformations in Portugal and by belonging to solidarity movements with immigrants, he made about thirty documentaries for France 2, France 3, Cinquième and Arte, drawing the picture of immigration in France based on his personal experience and individual stories.
The enormous difficulties experienced by Portuguese immigrants – life in slums, employers’ scams, discrimination and contempt – motivated José Vieira to reconstitute a collective memory and a common history for all those people, regardless of their origin, explaining the reasons that led them to leave their country and fight for a better life.
Extract from the catalogue LEFFEST’20