The Strange Case of Angelica

The Strange Case of Angelica (2010)

Genres - Drama, Fantasy, Romance  |   Sub-Genres - Romantic Fantasy  |   Release Date - Dec 29, 2010 (USA - Limited)  |   Run Time - 94 min.  |   Countries - Brazil, Germany, Spain, France, Portugal  |   MPAA Rating - NR
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Synopsis by Mark Deming

In this stylish exercise in magic realism, Isaac (Ricardo Trêpa) is a photographer who is contacted during a stormy night with an urgent assignment. Isaac is escorted to the estate of a wealthy family, where he's told of a recent tragedy -- the beautiful daughter of the household, Angélica (Pilar López de Ayala), died shortly after her wedding, before her bridal portrait could be taken. Her parents want a final photograph of Angélica, and they've brought Isaac to their home to take the pictures. Angélica has been laid out on a sofa in the living room, still wearing her wedding gown, and as Isaac looks at her through his viewfinder, he's struck by her beauty and thinks she looks as if she's just sleeping. Isaac is so effected by Angélica that he quickly falls in love with her, and when he looks at her through his camera, she comes to life, with her spirit as lively as ever in the photos he prints, though her body stubbornly stays lifeless. O Estranho Caso de Angélica (aka The Strange Case of Angelica) was the ninth directorial project in five years from filmmaker Manoel de Oliveira, a workload all the more remarkable given his age -- he was 101 years old when O Estranho Caso de Angélica made its debut at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival.