''Maria do Mar'' is a 1930 Portuguese silent

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

, a

docufiction Docufiction (or docu-fiction) is the cinematographic combination of documentary film, documentary and fiction, this term often meaning narrative film. It is a film genre which attempts to capture reality such as it is (as direct cinema or ciné ...

, directed by

Leitão de Barros A suckling pig is a piglet fed on its mother's milk (i.e., a piglet which is still a "suckling"). In culinary contexts, a suckling pig is slaughtered between the ages of two and six weeks. It is traditionally cooked whole, often roasted, in ...

. In March 2000, the Portuguese Cinematheque released a restoration of the film in

Lisbon Lisbon ( ; ) is the capital and largest city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 567,131, as of 2023, within its administrative limits and 3,028,000 within the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, metropolis, as of 2025. Lisbon is mainlan ...

and Porto. The film is notable not just for its narrative but also for its innovative use of cinematic techniques influenced by

German expressionism Expressionism is a modernist movement, initially in poetry and painting, originating in Northern Europe around the beginning of the 20th century. Its typical trait is to present the world solely from a subjective perspective, distorting it radi ...

Soviet montage Soviet montage theory is an approach to understanding and creating cinema that relies heavily upon editing ('' montage'' is French for 'assembly' or 'editing'). It is the principal contribution of Soviet film theorists to global cinema, and int ...

, and American filmmaking styles. It is considered one of the earliest examples of "

ethnofiction Ethnofiction is a subfield of ethnography which produces works that introduce art, in the form of storytelling, "thick descriptions and conversational narratives", and even first-person autobiographical accounts, into academic works. In addition ...

," where real cultural and social practices are depicted within a fictional framework. The film's documentary-like authenticity is one of its strengths, capturing the everyday struggles and resilience of Nazaré's fishing community.

Plot

Maria do Mar is a pivotal work in Portuguese cinema that blends documentary realism with fiction. The film portrays the lives of fishermen in the coastal village of Nazaré, focusing on the intense rivalry between two families. The conflict originates from a tragic incident at sea, where the actions of Falacha, one of the protagonists, lead to the death of another fisherman. This animosity is further complicated by the romantic relationship between Maria do Mar, the daughter of one of the deceased fishermen, and Manuel, Falacha’s son. Despite their love, the couple faces opposition from their families, mirroring a "Romeo and Juliet" scenario set against the harsh and rugged backdrop of a fishing community.

References

External links

* Portuguese silent films Portuguese drama films 1930 drama films 1930 films Films directed by José Leitão de Barros Nazaré, Portugal Portuguese black-and-white films Silent drama films Films scored by Bernardo Sassetti 1930s rediscovered films {{Portugal-film-stub

Plot

See also

References

External links