Aniki Bóbó

Manoel de Oliveira's feature debut is an apposite illustration of the documentary tendencies in the director's early productions. His native town of Porto plays a key role in this story of the torments of childhood love, strongly engaging even for adult audiences. The shooting in exteriors using natural light and casting child non-actors is what de Oliveira has in common with the films by Vittorio De Sica and other Italian neorealist directors. (Summer Film School)