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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SONG OF LOVE AND HEALTH
Synopsis
João is the only employee that we can see in Morais Key Cutting shop. He is also the son of the owner and he doesn’t hesitate about leaving the shop and following his heart’s whispers to spend coin after coin in the slot of a Love Machine. Marta of the Hills is a Fine Art Student who brings an unusual request. The key that João duplicates for her opens more than a single door.
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 in Portugal on April 2010 the 1st, with Ruins by Manuel Mozos
Extracts of Dialogues
MARTA OF THE HILLS:
I am like a jay: out for the night, sleep in the day.
JOÃO:
I don’t go out.
MARTA OF THE HILLS:
And what do you do while you’re at home?
JOÃO:
I read books about jays.
Director's Note
There are no believers like João nor are there students with so much openness like Marta of the Hills. Fortunately there are good writers. One of them is Machado de Assis who gives us a good piece of advice:
“…Go love, young men! And, above all, love beautiful and gracious young women; they cure evil, they perfume decay, they exchange death for life… Go love, young men!”
Festivals and Awards
41st Director’s Fortnight [France, 2009]
17th Curtas Vila do Conde – National Competition [Portugal, 2009]: TOBIS Award for Best Portuguese Film
Review Libération
“We possibly have never seen such an inventive film.
See moreReview Público
“Nicolau takes again the almost ideological indolence from the former “episode”'s character, Rapace and transforms again inactivity in a dazzling cinematographic event,
See moreJosé Oliveira's Review
“Once again, it is a fresh and full of fantasy work that we hardly can compare.
See moreImages
Sounds
- "Colagénio"
Cast
Norberto Lobo • Marta Sena • Ana Francisca • Helena Carneiro • Andreia Bertini • Miguel Gomes
Crew
written and directed by João Nicolau • cinematography Mario Castanheira • 1st assistant director Telmo Churro • rehearsal assistant Mariana Ricardo • continuity Manuel Mozos • sound Ricardo Leal • set decorators & wardrobe Sílvia Grabowski, Bruno Duarte, Susana Moura • hair dressing & make-up Patrícia Dias • editors Francisco Moreira, João Nicolau • sound editor & mix Miguel Martins • production manager Ana Gomes • executive producer Luís Urbano • co-producer Justin Taurand • producers Luís Urbano, Sandro Aguilar
35MM | 1:1.66| DOLBY SRD | COlOUR | 34’
© O SOM E A FÚRIA, LES FILMS DU BÉLIER, 2009
Sponsors
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Supported by
ICA | MC
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and the participation of
Canal+
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and
RTP
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support
Paulo Vieira Cabeleireiros
