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Cast
Maria Amélia Matta
as Benilde
Jorge Rolla
as Eduardo, Benilde's cousin
Varela Silva
as Melo Cantos, Benilde's father
Glória de Matos
as Etelvina, Eduardo's mother
Maria Barroso
as Genoveva, the house-keeper
Augusto de Figueiredo
as Cristóvão, the priest
Jacinto Ramos
as Fabrício, the doctor
Manoel de Oliveira
as Screaming Madman (voice)
Movie Info & Details
Release Year1975
Runtime1h 52m
LanguagePortuguese
CertificationNR
GenresDrama
Votes14
DirectorManoel de Oliveira
WritersManoel de Oliveira, José Régio
TypeFeature Film
Rating7.3 out of 10
Cast8 credited
Also Known AsBenilde or the Virgin Mother
About Benilde or the Virgin Mother
A young girl, Benilde, so protected by her religious family that she seemingly knows nothing about procreation, insists that her mysterious pregnancy is a miracle; however, her distressed bourgeois family decides that Benilde has lost her mind.
Directed by Manoel de Oliveira, Benilde or the Virgin Mother leans on a strong ensemble — Maria Amélia Matta, Jorge Rolla, Varela Silva — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.
The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 1975.
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