I consult the most recent Portuguese cinema box office releases published by Instituto do Cinema e do Audiovisual (ICA). Weekend October 7-10 007: No Time to Die 59,683 tickets sold; in the same period a portuguese film Metamorphosis of birds 1206 viewers – round accounts: 50 times less than the new James Bond adventure. However, the movie 007, which premiered a week earlier, has already been watched by 246,478 people.
I believe that this data satisfies nothing thinkers who cyclically try to convince us that the dramas of Portuguese cinema can only be viewed on the basis of what the public “wants” to see … I knew this sociology out of my own pocket. decades. There is a poorly disguised indifference to the commercial life of Portuguese films: it will only be a matter of establishing a “fair” match between supply and demand, provided that all responsibilities will always be on the side of those who are looking for it, that is, the audience .. The proposal, in truth, does not exist: films arrive at night accompanied by storks – no one chooses, programs or promotes them.
A mandatory variant of this ideology includes the cynical accusation of “criticism” that is always viewed as a herd (including in certain forms of advertising), hiding the radical heterogeneity of the critical space. One film is said to have been “critically acclaimed,” but “no one” watched it … For such a demagogy, Katarina Vasconcelos’s film makes an excellent guinea pig, not least because it has won several awards on the international festival chain. In other words: he works very well “there”, but in his own country “nobody” is interested in this subject.
The same cynicism will remind you that “critics” think that the market does not work well when “their” chosen films are not successful … In this regard, I can note the sympathy that I have already expressed publicly 007: No Time to Die how to put Metamorphosis of birds… But I know that in doing so, I am shooting myself in the foot: the question is not to think about the public life of films (Portuguese or not) based on the value judgments they can generate, but to remember the need to problematize the circulation of these same films aside from such judgments. My point is that even if I rated these two films completely negatively, the problems I am listing here would be strictly the same.
What then? It starts with the problem of knowledge and perception – sometimes it needs to be acknowledged by approving forms of journalism that only seek “excitement” or “disagreement” – a problem that starts with a systematic ignorance of (other) market figures.
So, for example, for the specified period, how many screens were shown 007: No Time to Die? ICA answer: 165 screens with 1492 sessions. What are the relevant numbers for Metamorphosis of birds? However, with invaluable help from ICA: 19 screens, 84 sessions. Let’s say, for simplicity: even if the average capacity of the room Metamorphosis of birds there were 500 seats (stupidly exaggerated for the current market structure), and even if Katharina Vasconcelos’s film had sold out in all of its sessions, it would still be lower than 007: No Time to Die…
What, then, is the controversial issue? Ideology, which, for my part, I have known professionally since the heroic 70s. Passed down from generation to generation, such an ideology remains unshakable and unshakable, designed to convince us – and I have no doubt to convince my messengers – that Weekend Numbers are the beginning and end of the complexity of the film market.
What then is suppressed? Many vectors that can (and should) lead us to think about, for example, the place of cinema in education (starting with children) or its various configurations of television, while not forgetting the advertising restrictions of small distributors and their difficulty in reaching many. numbers. But let’s focus on the dominant choice in the marketplace and how that choice, in one way or another, plays a critical cultural role in shaping and formatting audiences.
Cultural? But who, then, makes film culture, not artists and, by the way, poor critics? Yes, they will be on a modest scale, but it’s time to dismantle this concept of “culture” as a kind of medicine for souls (by the way, a beautiful metaphor), which sooner or later will be approved by some state. medal. Nothing of the sort: the most influential cultural agents in cinema are in production, distribution and marketing.
We can imagine a surreal experience: place new Marvel or DC Comics superproducts in just 19 rooms like Metamorphosis of birds… And don’t waste the thousands of euros that are usually invested in promoting superhero adventures. After that we made an appointment to get back to talking about numbers … A serious alternative? Some discipline to deal with what Michel Foucault called “the great wrath of facts.”
“You are the future,” President Marcelo Rebelo de Souza told a three-year-old girl dressed in traditional Portuguese clothing who came out to greet him on the podium where he spoke at Artesia Portuguese Salon. The city, located on the outskirts of Los Angeles, has not hosted the President of the Portuguese Republic since 1989. This weekend, he did it with pomp and the setting of an ornate Portuguese-American community bursting with pride.
“We have never lost the honor and responsibility of being representatives of this beautiful flag,” said Jimmy Enes, a member of Artesia DES, a Portuguese descendant, in a welcoming speech delivered in perfect Portuguese. “When we are asked who we are, we always answer”i am portuguese“and not”Portuguese-American“or ‘Portuguese American’,” he said. “That’s why we’re trying step by step to protect our heritage on the outskirts of Los Angeles, one of the greatest cities in the world.”
Artesia was one of the stops during President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s visit to California, which was the largest head of state trip since Mario Soares welcomed West Coast communities 33 years ago.
The hall received the President during the Festa dos Santos Populares, which he organizes every year in September and this time also celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Banda Filarmónica de Artesia. Dozens of musicians and dancers marched through the atrium, singing songs in Portuguese, as residents alternated between clapping their hands and tasting sardines. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa exchanged words and took pictures with the Portuguese Americans. “It’s unusual, the president is always with the people,” Steve Miranda, president of the board of Artesia DES, told DN. “I think it touched everyone’s hearts.”
Zeto Carvalho, adviser to the Azores diaspora and head of SATA Air Açores, stressed the same. “This event is important and of great importance, because the emigrants feel welcome when the president comes here and demonstrates what he has shown here, this affection,” he told DN.
The president promised a visit in 2018 and is doing so this week, at a time when ties between California and Portugal are stronger than ever.
“The Portuguese presence in California, on the one hand, combines exemplary integration, and on the other hand, the spirit of association and connection with Portugal, which is in full view,” said Consul General of Portugal in San Francisco Pedro Pinto. . “Today Portugal is here.”
Located about thirty kilometers from downtown Los Angeles, Artesia has a Portuguese community of several thousand, mostly from the Azores. Surnames such as Rodriguez or Silva are often seen on the shutters of the villas around the hall, and the nearby church of Sagrada Familia still holds a weekly Mass in Portuguese led by Father Luis Proenza.
“Divino Espírito Santo de Artesia, in existence for nearly 100 years, continues to be a model community in the state with the largest Portuguese presence in the US,” said Jimmy Enes. California is, in fact, the state where the most Portuguese – 347 thousand. Accompanied by deputies Eurico Brillante Diaz (PS), Joao Moura (PSD), Rui Paulo Sousa (Enough) and Pedro Filipe Soares (BE), this delegation visits several of these communities, from San Diego and Artesia to San Jose, San Francisco, Gustin and Turlock.
The geographic dispersion in the giant state and the considerable distance to Portugal, with a single direct 10-hour TAP flight between San Francisco and Lisbon, makes maintaining connections difficult. Therefore, the president especially noted the work of the Portuguese salons in California, including Artesia.
“I am happy because you are a great example. So far away from Portugal, you are Portugal,” the President said in a speech almost entirely in English. “We want you to be Portuguese living in the United States, as Americans, never forget that you are Portuguese,” he continued. “I am so proud of you and this association. What you do here year after year.”
The head of state highlighted the number of young people in the Philharmonic Orchestra and in the hall, as attracting new generations of Portuguese descendants is one of the issues that most concern the communities. And he talked about the importance of learning the language, “the fifth most spoken in the world,” which is a constant demand of community leaders.
“We have to improve our Portuguese language skills,” he stressed, pointing to the work being done with the new superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, Portuguese Alberto Carvalho, who was present at the event.
The Secretary of State for Portuguese Communities, Paulo Cafofo, who encouraged associations to apply for new support for associativism, also mentioned this aspect. “The Portuguese government is actively promoting the Portuguese language,” he assured.
For Paula Rocha Diaz, a Portuguese translator who emigrated to Oceanside for 14 years, this is a key moment. “I would like to strengthen the teaching of Portuguese so that the children who grow up here do not lose the language, as happened to my daughter,” he told DN. “Today, for the first time, she said that she was a Portuguese-American,” she said, demonstrating her emotion at being able to sing the Portuguese anthem with her compatriots. “I liked that the president reminded us that we are all part of the Portuguese pride and even though we are far away, Portugal is still in our hearts.”
According to Steve Miranda, with an estimated turnout of 500 to 700 people, the party at Artesia “was a huge success”. Necessary: ”We need to create this enthusiasm so that the younger ones continue to engage in our culture.”
The President understood the task, giving out hugs and listening to the numerous stories of emigrants. “Where the Portuguese is, there is Portugal,” he said. “Wherever we go, we take our soul, our traditions with us.”
Cristiano Ronaldo got a cut on his nose and needed a bandage (Photo: MICHAL CIZEK / AFP)
Photo: Lance!
Gratitude. It seems that the attacker Cristiano Ronaldo shared his social media with Portuguese fans after a clash with Czech goalkeeper Vaclik. In the auction, the assailant received a cut on his face and needed a bandage to stop the bleeding.
“Great game, important team win! We remain focused on our goal. Thanks to the Portuguese public for the fantastic support,” the striker wrote on his Instagram account.
The match was marked by a great performance Portugal national team, who beat the Czech Republic 4-0 to take the lead in Nations League Group 2 with ten points with one matchday to go in the group stage of the tournament. Cristiano Ronaldo ended up losing to his team.
After the match, the leader of the Portuguese national team appreciated the result achieved on the road. “It was a very important victory and all teammates should be congratulated on the result,” commented the 37-year-old striker.
With three wins, one draw and one defeat, the Portuguese team has the best attack in their group with eleven goals scored and a net difference of nine. The team is one draw away from qualifying for the tournament series. The next match against Spain is next Tuesday in the city of Braga.
Thomas Gouveia solidified his status as the best Portuguese in the Swiss Challenge this Saturday by finishing the penultimate day of the second European round robin in a group of 31st placed golfers.
Thomas Gouveia hit the card with 73 shots, one over par on the course, after two birdies (one under par hole) and three bogeys (one over), after making 71 shots in the previous two days for a total of 215.
Thomas Bessa needed 75 hits, three over par and tied for scarecrows, he finished 48th with 218 total, five short of Vitor Lopez, 60th with 223, after today needs 78, with just one bird . to fit five scarecrows and a double scarecrow.
The Swiss Challenge, which concludes on Sunday in Folgensburg, France, is still led by France’s Chung Veon Ko with a total of 206 shots, one short of Denmark’s Martin Simonsen in second place.
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