João Nicolau was born in Lisbon, Portugal in 1975. He works as a film director, film editor, actor and musician. He has never understood (nor will he ever) a thing about the Middle East. He lives in 2011, in Lisbon, Portugal.
His first feature film, The Sword and the Rose, comes after two shorts which have achieved an amazing success: Song of Love and Health (2009), after it’s premiere in Cannes’ Director’s Forthnight, has been awarded a total of 9 times in festivals such as Belfort, Brive, Recife and Rio de Janeiro and has been screened in more than 20 film festivals around the world. Bird of Prey, his first short (2006), also released in Cannes, has been selected for more than 60 international film festivals and been awarded at, among others, Milano, Belfort, Réus and Vila do Conde.
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BIRD OF PREY
Synopsis
After finishing his Master degree, Hugo spends his days giving his brain a rest from the endless reading of texts by unknown authors.
His only company is Luisa, the cleaning lady, with whom he plays cat and mouse.
To avoid the sleep of reason, Hugo exercises his lyrical vein by writing, with his friend Manuel, songs about their neighbourhood.
The quiet dilettantism of our protagonist is shaken by Catarina, a young and beautiful translator who’s starting her professional life as a freelancer.
Hugo is hooked and wavers. High above, a kestrel falcon hovers.
It’s not the only bird of prey that can do it.
Director's Bio-filmography
THE SWORD AND THE ROSE [2010] • SONG OF LOVE AND HEALTH [2009] • BIRD OF PREY [2006] • YOU CAN´T LIVE WITH YOUR MOUTH SHUT [1999]
Theatrical Release
RELEASED WITH THE FILM LES DEUX VIES DU SERPENT (THE SERPENT’S TWO LIVES) BY HÉLIER CISTERNE ON OCTOBER THE 12TH 2006
Festivals & Awards
38th Director’s Fortnight – Cannes [France, 2006]
Lutins du Court Métrage – Nomination for international short
EntreVues – Festival du Film de Belfort [France, 2006] International Short Grand Prize, Public Prize
11º Milano Film Festival [Italy, 2006] Best Short Jury’s Prize
Director's Note
This film finds itself very far from any attempt of imitation or description of a so called reality. It claims itself as a fictious construction and subsists upon it. Fair enough: the main character does the same.
Images
Sounds
- Rapace
Cast
Hugo Leitão • Márcia Breia • Lia Ferreira • Manuel Mesquita
Crew
director João Nicolau • screenplay João Nicolau • cinematography Mário Castanheira • sound Miguel Martins • first assistant director Telmo Churro • continuity Manuel Mozos • decoration Patrícia Maravilha • wardrobe Patrícia Dória • make-up Emmanuele Févre • production manager Ana Gomes • editing João Nicolau, Miguel Gomes • sound editing and mix Miguel Martins • producers Luis Urbano, Sandro Aguilar
35mm | 1;1,66 | Dolby SR | 25’
© O SOM E A FÚRIA, 2006
