Haircut (film)
Encyclopedia
Haircut is an independent Portuguese
drama film directed
by Joaquim Sapinho
, produced at Rosa Filmes
.
, but also the film debut for most of the cast and crew of the film. Haircut became famous even before having been shot, for its long pre-production, which consisted on thousands of casting calls, which would finally end with the finding of the leading lady Carla Bolito. The film was shot in a series of popular locations in Lisbon where, however, no film had ever been shot before, like the Mexicana café, the shopping center Amoreiras or the Príncipe Real Garden where, some years later, the final scene of João César Monteiro's film Vai e Vem would be shot.
, and tells the story of a day in the life of Rita and Paulo, a portuguese young couple of the 90's, belonging to the first generation of portuguese to grow up inside the European Union
. The fast changing city around them makes them wish to break with all traditions and live the day the get married (only civil marriage) like it is an ordinary day. However, for some reason Rita wants to be absolutely sure Paulo loves her and decides to cut her long black hair short before the ceremony. Rita and Paulo still get married, but Rita's haircut would drasticaly and unexpectedly change their relationship.
. It also won the award for best film at the 1996 Angers European Film Festival, and the Best Actress Award for Carla Bolito at the Geneva Film Festival. In it's home country, Haircut was highly acclaimed both by the critic and by the audience in an unprecedented way for Portugal. It was considered the best depiction of the portuguese youth of the nineties captured on film. The brasilian newspaper Estado de São Paulo called it the first post-modern portuguese film.
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
drama film directed
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
by Joaquim Sapinho
Joaquim Sapinho
Joaquim Sapinho is a Portuguese film director. He is also the founder of Rosa Filmes. He was born in Sabugal, Portugal.-Career:Joaquim Sapinho was a student at the Portuguese National Film School, where he is nowadays a professor of directing for cinema.He started as a documentarist for...
, produced at Rosa Filmes
Rosa Filmes
Rosa Filmes is a Portuguese independent motion picture production and distribution company.Founded by Joaquim Sapinho in 1993, Rosa Filmes has produced until now:...
.
Production
Haircut was not only the directorial debut of Portuguese director Joaquim SapinhoJoaquim Sapinho
Joaquim Sapinho is a Portuguese film director. He is also the founder of Rosa Filmes. He was born in Sabugal, Portugal.-Career:Joaquim Sapinho was a student at the Portuguese National Film School, where he is nowadays a professor of directing for cinema.He started as a documentarist for...
, but also the film debut for most of the cast and crew of the film. Haircut became famous even before having been shot, for its long pre-production, which consisted on thousands of casting calls, which would finally end with the finding of the leading lady Carla Bolito. The film was shot in a series of popular locations in Lisbon where, however, no film had ever been shot before, like the Mexicana café, the shopping center Amoreiras or the Príncipe Real Garden where, some years later, the final scene of João César Monteiro's film Vai e Vem would be shot.
Plot
The film is set in LisbonLisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
, and tells the story of a day in the life of Rita and Paulo, a portuguese young couple of the 90's, belonging to the first generation of portuguese to grow up inside the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
. The fast changing city around them makes them wish to break with all traditions and live the day the get married (only civil marriage) like it is an ordinary day. However, for some reason Rita wants to be absolutely sure Paulo loves her and decides to cut her long black hair short before the ceremony. Rita and Paulo still get married, but Rita's haircut would drasticaly and unexpectedly change their relationship.
Cast
- Carla Bolito as Rita
- Marco Delgado as Paulo
- Francisco Nascimento as Lucas
- Orlando Sérgio as the black man
Reception
Haircut was nominated for the Golden Leopard at the 1995 Locarno International Film FestivalLocarno International Film Festival
The Film Festival Locarno is an international film festival held annually in the city of Locarno, Switzerland since 1946. After Cannes and Venice and together with Karlovy Vary, Locarno is the Film Festival with the longest history...
. It also won the award for best film at the 1996 Angers European Film Festival, and the Best Actress Award for Carla Bolito at the Geneva Film Festival. In it's home country, Haircut was highly acclaimed both by the critic and by the audience in an unprecedented way for Portugal. It was considered the best depiction of the portuguese youth of the nineties captured on film. The brasilian newspaper Estado de São Paulo called it the first post-modern portuguese film.
External links
- Haircut official page at Rosa Filmes web site (click on "ENG", then on "DIRECTORS", then on "JOAQUIM SAPINHO", then on "HAIRCUT")