The Black Book of Father Dinis

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The Black Book of Father Dinis

2020

1h 43m

History

Drama

Romance

Comedy

Crime

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

7 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Exploring the tumultuous lives of Laura, a peasant maid and Sebastian, the young orphan in her charge, against a backdrop of overflowing passion and revolutionary intrigue in Europe at the twilight of the 18th century. An unlikely adventure yarn that strides the continent, from Rome and Venice to London and Paris, with whispers of conspiracies from the clergy, the military and the gentry, this sumptuous period piece ponders the intertwined nature of fate, desire and duty.

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Jonathan Romney

Screen International

09/25/2018

The plot is slow to thicken, but once it does, it takes on the constituency of a well-simmered minestrone.

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Jennie Kermode

Eye for Film

12/11/2020

2.5/5

Seen as a single piece, it feels slow and unwieldy. Fans of the source material are likely to enjoy it, however.

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Harvey S. Karten

Shockya.com

12/03/2020

B+

Grand, romantic and melodramatic historical fiction.

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Monica Reid

Far Out Magazine

11/06/2018

3.5/5

Its earnest storytelling, interesting characters, and attention to detail overcome the dated and overemotional material and make for an entertaining drama.

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José Enrique Monterde

Caimán Cuadernos de Cine

09/25/2018

Thus, [the film's] dramatization of feelings befitting a melodrama and the characteristic action of a soap opera join forces to explain the depths of a revolt, perfectly framed in the visual. [Full review in Spanish]

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Carlos F. Heredero

Caimán Cuadernos de Cine

09/25/2018

Without a doubt, the most provacative proposal that the official section of the festival has offered up until now. [Full review in Spanish]

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12/16/2020

Starts off great; lands flat

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Valéria Sarmiento

Director

Lou de Laâge

Laura

Stanislas Merhar

Rufo

Niels Schneider

Marquis Lusault

Jenna Thiam

Suzanne Monfort

David Caracol

Calabrais

The Black Book of Father Dinis (O Caderno Negro): Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Exploring the tumultuous lives of Laura, a peasant maid and Sebastian, the young orphan in her charge, against a backdrop of overflowing passion and revolutionary intrigue in Europe at the twilight of the 18th century. An unlikely adventure yarn that strides the continent, from Rome and Venice to London and Paris, with whispers of conspiracies from the clergy, the military and the gentry, this sumptuous period piece ponders the intertwined nature of fate, desire and duty.

Director: Valéria Sarmiento
Producer: Paulo Branco
Screenwriter: Carlos Saboga, Camilo Castelo Branco
Distributor: Music Box Films
Production Co: CB partners, Alfama Films, APM - Ana Pinhão Moura Produções, Lisbon Film Commission, Radiotelevisão Portuguesa (RTP) [pt], Câmara Municipal de Lisboa, Procirep, Ciné+, Leopardo Filmes
Genre: History, Drama, Romance, Comedy, Crime
Original Language: French (France)
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 8, 2020, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 8, 2020
Runtime: 1h 43m