A Talking Picture

Portuguese-born Manoel de Oliveira, 96, is considered boring by some, and few of his films have been commercially distributed in the United States. Yet when his passion and anger ring clear, as they do in A Talking Picture, he's capable of masterworks. True to its title, this film is very chatty, as a beautiful history professor (Leonor Silveira) and her seven-year-old daughter (Filipa de Almeida) embark on a cruise around the Mediterranean to see the historical sights, during which the professor explains both history and myths, and the daughter dutifully asks questions for clarification. Meanwhile, the ship's captain (John Malkovich) and three distinguished ladies (Catherine Deneuve, Irene Papas, and Stefania Sandrelli) repeatedly meet at the former's table to discuss history, love, and other matters of great sophistication in four different languages. All of this intelligent sharing of ideas is suddenly interrupted by an act so devastating and frustrating that words--in any language--offer no solace, leaving the viewer starring at a frozen image in horrified silence. Opening a powerful, post-9/11 cinematic window on a world that is both amazing and horrendous, A Talking Picture is highly recommended. Editor's Choice. [Note: DVD extras include the essay “Manoel de Oliveira: A Career” by Columbia University associate professor of Film Studies Richard Pena, a filmography for de Oliveira, a stills gallery, and a trailer. Bottom line: a small extras package for a powerful film.] (J.M. Anderson)