简介：TwofilmdirectorsandawriterareinPortugalforanexpeditionthroughvariousimages,momentsfromthehistoryofWesternallegoricalrepresentation.ThewriterisJean-LouisSchefer,andthistaleencapsulateshislife’smission.WhatistheconnectionbetweenthedansesmacabresofthedyingdaysoftheMiddleAges,HieronymusBosch’TemptationofStAnthony,alandscapebyFragonardandtheprehistoricrockengravingsofFoz-Côa?Thereisnoconnection,Scheferadmitsfromthestart,saveforthearbitrarinessoftaste.Noscholarlyconnection,butratherarelationship,livelyandfleeting,afriendlyconversationresumedateachstoppingpointofthisjourneyreflectingonpicturesandwhattheyretain ofhistory.Schefertalksalot;hislanguageisfluent,clearandfocused.Histwofriendssaylittle,listeningattentively,revivingtheconversationfromtimetotime.Doesthismakeitamonologueindisguise?Yes,becausethisfilmpeopledbyfriendshipconcealstheportraitofathinkerandwriterasonlycinemacan:anintellectinaction,awayofbeingaloneorincompany,leadingthephilosophicalconversation,anentirelifeaectedbypictures,compactinfrontofafewfigurativeobjects.Andno,becausetheconversationiswovenbetweenSchefer’swords,RitaAzevedoGomes’dramatisationandPierreLéon’sediting,andthefilm,withoutanotherword,unfurlsanotherideathatamplifies,discussesandsurpassesthewriter’sthought.Passionforpaintinghauntsthecompositionofeveryshot,whichitframeslikeapictureinamuseumoraPortugueselandscape.Theeditingpunctuatesthejourneyofamicro-historyofcinemainplayfulcontrasttotheeruditediscourse.AsSchefersaysofdansesmacabres,“Itmoves,it’sliquidandsolidatthesametime,itmovesforwardtowardsnothing,intonothing.It’shistory,carryingotheliving”.(C.N.)…