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» » Aldeia da Roupa Branca (1939)

Short summary

Gracinda, a young laundry washer, lives with her godfather, "Uncle" Jacinto, and together they run a family business, doing the laundry for residents of Lisbon in their small village in the outskirts of that city (Canecas). Unfortunately, the business is not going very well, but that changes when Gracinda decides to go to the city to try to convince Chico, "Uncle" Jacinto's son, with whom she is in love, to return to the village and give new life to the business. The village is preparing for the annual festivities and a dispute erupts between "Uncle" Jacinto and his business rival , the widow Quiteria, when each of them invites different bands to play at the same time during the party and dances.

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    • Author: Berkohi
    This film tells the story of Gracinda, a young laundress it manages, together with her godfather Jacinto, a wash-clothing business in a river on the outskirts of Lisbon. Directed by Chianca de Garcia, this film has script by Ramada Curto and José Gomes Ferreira, and cast led by Beatriz Costa (as Gracinda) and Manuel Santos Carvalho (as Jacinto).

    Its one of most classic films of early days of Portuguese cinema, and its considered timeless and very appreciated in Portugal. Some of its scenes and songs are well-known in the country, especially "Água Fria da Ribeira", sung by Beatriz Costa, actress which will have her final consecration in this film. The film portrays realities that, at the time, were very close to people, starting with the washerwomen and the custom of washing clothes in river, something that has long ceased to be done, not only for environmental reasons but mainly for the popularization of home appliances. Therefore, this film surpasses the seventh art and turns out to be an historical document, a portrait of a society, a time and location. The ingenuity of this film, coupled with the relative inexperience of some actors with cinema (most of them is used to act in theater) make this film delicious and illustrative than were the first steps of cinema in Portugal.
  • Cast overview, first billed only:
    Beatriz Costa Beatriz Costa - Gracinda
    Manuel Santos Carvalho Manuel Santos Carvalho - Tio Jacinto
    José Amaro José Amaro - Chico
    Óscar de Lemos Óscar de Lemos - Luís
    Elvira Velez Elvira Velez - Quitéria
    Armando Machado Armando Machado - Zé da Iria
    Octávio de Matos Octávio de Matos - Simão
    Jorge Gentil Jorge Gentil - Chitas
    Mário Santos Mário Santos - Borges
    Maria Salomé Maria Salomé
    Aida Ultz Aida Ultz
    Aurora Celeste Aurora Celeste
    Sofía Santos Sofía Santos
    João Silva João Silva
    Joaquim Manique Joaquim Manique
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