The Convent (1995)

Synopsis: This latest work by the 86-year-old Portuguese writer-director Manoel de Oliveira showcases his eye for beautiful compositions, and his taste for detailed, magical narratives. And for the first time, de Oliveira works with movie... This latest work by the 86-year-old Portuguese writer-director Manoel de Oliveira showcases his eye for beautiful compositions, and his taste for detailed, magical narratives. And for the first time, de Oliveira works with movie stars--Catherine Deneuve and John Malkovich. An American professor and his dissatisfied wife, Hélene, journey to a remote monastery to conduct research. There, he hopes to find evidence to prove his thesis that William Shakespeare was actually a Sephardic Jew. When they arrive, the couple encounters the monastery's strange inhabitants, including the ancient building's sinister guardian, Baltar. De Oliveira suggests that one of the characters--maybe even Baltar or Hélene--is actually Satan, and develops a complex conflict between good and evil. [More]

Starring: Catherine Deneuve, John Malkovich, Leonor Silveira, Luis Miguel Cintra

Starring: Catherine Deneuve, John Malkovich, Leonor Silveira, Luis Miguel Cintra, Duarte D'Almeida, Heloisa Miranda

Director: Manoel de Oliveira

Director: Manoel de Oliveira
Screenwriter: Manoel de Oliveira

[See More Credits]