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The Black Book of Father Dinis

Play trailer 1:40 Poster for The Black Book of Father Dinis 2020 1h 43m History Drama Romance Comedy Crime Play Trailer Watchlist
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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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The Black Book of Father Dinis

Critics Reviews

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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. Go to Full Review
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. Go to Full Review
Harvey S. Karten Shockya.com 12/03/2020
B+
Grand, romantic and melodramatic historical fiction. Go to Full Review
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. Go to Full Review
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] Go to Full Review
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] Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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12/16/2020 Starts off great; lands flat See more Read all reviews
The Black Book of Father Dinis

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Movie Info

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
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