Acto da Primavera 1963

Overview

Acto da Primavera, also known as Rite of Spring, is a 1963 Portuguese docudrama film directed by Manoel de Oliveira. This ethnographic musical film serves as the second feature directed by de Oliveira, who also produced and wrote the project. The screenplay was co-written by Francisco Vaz De Guimaraes. In addition to the primary direction, the production involved the collaborative efforts of António Reis, who served as assistant director, alongside co-directors António Soares and Domingos Carneiro. The film captures the local people of Curalha, a small village, as they maintain a traditional practice of representing the Passion of Jesus. This performance is based on a text dating back to the 16th century. The feature has a runtime of one hour and thirty-four minutes and was released in Portugal on October 2, 1963. Through its focus on this popular celebration, the film documents a specific cultural tradition preserved by the residents of the village.