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Catalog/Drama/The Cannibals
The Cannibals poster
B
Strong
MASTER SCORE 63.5 / 100
1988·Drama / Fantasy / Musical·1h 30m

THE CANNIBALS

“A drama following stories of characters from the Portuguese High Society.”

This odd film is a major representative of an even odder film genre: direct-to-celluloid opera. It was commissioned by the Portuguese master of style, director Manoel de Oliveira from composer João Paes. Musically, it ranges from 19th-century romanticism to popular, modernist and even "post-modernist" styles. In the initially tame story, a host-narrator tells the story of a wedding between the two lovebirds: Viscount d'Aveleda and the beautiful Marguerite. However, what happens in the bridal chamber is incredibly bizarre. The events after that are even stranger, and the wedding guests and family indulge in cannibalism, among other perversions.

Above the Line
Manoel de Oliveira·DirectorManoel de Oliveira·ScreenplayJoão Paes·WriterJosé António Loureiro·Assistant CameraJoão Paes·Original Music ComposerSabine Franel·Editor
Cast
Luís Miguel Cintra·Viscount d'AveledaLeonor Silveira·MargaridaDiogo Dória·Don JoãoOliveira Lopes·The Presenter (lago)Pedro T. da Silva·NiccoloJoel Costa·Urbano SolarRogério Samora·PeraltaRogério Vieira·The MagistrateAntónio Loja Neves·The BaronLuís Madureira
Full Crew
(22 credits)
Directing· 4
Manoel de Oliveira·DirectorJaime Silva·Assistant DirectorFernando Vendrell·Assistant DirectorJúlia Buisel·Continuity
Writing· 3
João Paes·WriterManoel de Oliveira·ScreenplayÁlvaro do Carvalhal·Book
Camera· 1
José António Loureiro·Assistant Camera
Editing· 2
Sabine Franel·EditorManoel de Oliveira·Editor
Sound & Music· 4
João Paes·Original Music ComposerJoaquim Pinto·Sound DesignerWilliam Flageollet·Sound Re-Recording MixerJean-Paul Loublier·Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Art & Design· 3
Luís Monteiro·Production DesignJasmim de Matos·Costume DesignVeronique Vincent·Makeup Artist
Production· 2
Paulo Branco·ProducerPaulo De Sousa·Executive Producer
Other Departments· 3
Mário Barroso·CinematographyDominique Buisson·HairstylistMário Castanheira·Electrician
By the Numbers
63.5
OF 100
Master Score
7.0
OF 10
IMDb
—
CRITICS
Rotten Tomatoes
—
Worldwide Gross
0
Oscar Wins
Where to Watch

THE AVAILABILITY MAP

The canonical record of where this film lives across the streaming map.

Provider Index In Progress

Streaming, rental, and purchase availability for this title is being ingested from the TMDB watch-providers feed and will appear here once the next catalog refresh runs. Until then, the canonical source links below remain the fastest route.

Find on TMDB
Poster DNA

THE VISUAL DECONSTRUCTION

A bespoke vision agent's reading of the design language behind The Cannibals's key art.

Dominant Palette
3 colors
#E04000
#1A0D00
#FFFFFF
Mood
Intense, Mysterious
Composition
Split
Era
1970s
Visual Style
Graphic Design

“The poster features two stylized, silhouetted female faces against an orange and black halftone background. The face on the left is seen in profile, looking upw”

horror
Atmosphere
Gritty
Color Mood
Warm
Setting
Abstract
Design Score
7/10
More Like This

THE NEIGHBORHOOD

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Keep Going

THREE WAYS DEEPER

Auteur
AUT
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Every catalog entry where Manoel de Oliveira is credited as director.

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GEN
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Era
DEC
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