Changing Tides

Changing Tides (Portuguese: Mau Tempo, Marés e Mudança - 1976) is a Portuguese feature-length film by Ricardo Costa, his first docufiction, preceding Bread and Wine (1981) and Mists (2003).

Manuel Pardal, fisherman and native poet, plays the star. This film and a book publication of his poetry, Em Cima do Mar, (On the salted sea), are the single remaining registers of his life and work .

First released by RTP (national television) in 1975.

Synopsis

Manuel Pardal, a solitary fisherman who makes his meagre living from the sea, a native poet, is a keen observer of human and social conditions. Like some in Algarve (the southern portuguese coast), or others in Alentejo, a flat and dry close region, he is one of the last survivors of the portuguese oral literature. Illiterate, he follows oral tradition common to both regions, consisting in using straight rhyme and free improvisation. So the poet is an artist and an actor.

In the film, he plays a new role using new instruments, improvising together with a new partner, the filmmaker. He goes fishing offshore the town where he lives, Quarteira. Solitude and long waiting «on the salted sea» make him think. He thinks a lot. He has become a philosopher.

He is now acting for you. Also those waiting for him on the beach, living together with him, his friends, their children will play the game, showing themselves together with Pardal making his exciting show (his name means Sparrow and he exploits it), telling amazing stories, reciting fine verse, asking you serious questions.

He also plays portuguese guitar and sings romantic or “frank” fado^[1][2].

Cast

• Manuel Pardal – fisherman and native poet
• His family
• His friends

Credits

• Director and producer: Ricardo Costa (filmmaker)
• Co-producer: RTP
• Photography, camera: Ricardo Costa
• Portuguese guitar: Manuel Pardal
• Spanish guitar: Abílio Delca
• Sound: Maurício Cunha and Jorge Melo Cardoso
• Editing: Maria Alice Cruz
• Mixing: Jorge Melo Cardoso
• Studios: RTP
• Format: 16 mm b/w
• Genre: docufiction
• Running time: 90’ aprox.
• Premiere: RTP, 1977

Bibliographic references

• O Cais do Olhar by José de Matos-Cruz, Portuguese Cinematheque, 1999
• Ricardo Costa and the flowing pictures, article by José de Matos-Cruz

References

1. ^ Producer's information
2. ^ Article at the Portuguese Wikipedia (see "Mau Tempo, Marés e Mudança")

External links

• Mau Tempo, Marés e Mudança at the Internet Movie Database