
Silvahastroddenmanypathsoverthecourseofhislife,pathsthatcriss-crossthenorthofPortugal.He’smadeendsmeetasanumbrellarepairman,afarmer,ashepherd,abarber,bricklayer,miner,gardener,clownandmagician,somanypeaksandtroughs.Nowhisstepsechointhenarrowstreetsofaremotevillage,wherehehasmovedintoanemptyhouse.Hewearsasuitandcutsastrikingfigurewithhisrichlyembroideredsombrero,thewhitebundleoverhisshoulder,hiscowboyboots,walkingstickandtheringsonhisfingers.Hecouldbeacharacterinapicaresquenovel.Thelocalsavoidthisstrangewanderer,exceptforayounggirlwhoisreceptivetobothhimandhisstories.Shepreserveshislegacy,sheputsacrownonhishead.Sotoodoesthefilm,byadaptingandstagingSilva'spersonalityforthebigscreen.Itapproachestheoldman'svisions,crisesandphantasmswithempathyandinvention,transposingthemintosplendidCinemascopeimages,tothesoundofPortuguesesongsfromthe1970s.Whenthevagabondsetsoffonhisfinaljourney,youknowthatheandhisworldofimaginationaremorethanwelcomeguestsinthecinematographicrealm.berlinale2016