Overcoming Foundational Myths in João Botelho's and Manoel de Oliveira's cinema

Abstract

The films Um Adeus Português (1986), by João Botelho, and Non, ou a Vã Glória de Mandar (1990), by Manoel de Oliveira, rely on a storytelling technique based on the contraposition of present and past, in order to delve into the history of Portugal, especially in relation to issues such as national identity and the portuguese cultural imagery. This paper analyses the way in which both films distort the three traditional myths –Os Lusíadas, the Fifth Empire and sebastianism– to suggest a new point of view about the canonical imperial discourse.