Premieres
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Premieres
Jangada de Pedra – Viagem ao nosso passado mais remoto
(The Stone Raft - A journey to tour more distant past)
With the presençe of José Saramago, Nobel Prize in Literature
Évora University Auditorium: November 20th, 2007, 5.30pm
Synopsis:
Strange events fallow the development of a mysterious fracture network which, from the east to the west, propagates through the mountain village of the Pyrenees, isolating the Iberian Peninsula from the rest of Europe. Transformed into a giant stone raft, the Iberian Peninsula starts then a long way through the Atlantic to the rhythm of the main characters’ emotions. Is it only fiction?
The answer to this question, apparently simple, takes us to discover the fundaments of the "Plate Tectonics", a theory explaining the movements which continuously alter the surface of the Earth, making ephemerons any disposition of continents or oceans. Using common examples, a strange but fascinating world is then revealed to us.
The extrapolation to the most remote past of the rules that today direct our Planet dynamics, leads us to look from a completely different way to the stones around us. Instead of static objects they get the astonishing capacity to move, showing their troublesome genesis.
The application of all these concepts to Alentejo, allows us to discover an unexpected past. As the Iberian Peninsula in Saramago’s novel, the genesis of Alentejo also starts when a huge "piece of rock" is pulled off from a giant continent, Gondwana. It’s in the evolution of the then formed ocean, which the geologist called Rheic, the history of the Alentejo has to be looked for. The rocks that exist there prove that volcanism, coral reefs and an enormous mountains are phenomenon with an important role in the evolution which to the Alentejo as we know it today.
We are aware that this approach leads us to other areas besides the scientific one. Areas where Geology and Literature meet: mythology, legends, popular wisdom. The stories told to explain the world where we live, to control fears and anxieties. These are stories that Geology may use to show the grandiosity of the Earth. An example is the geological explanation of the Deluge.
Another more philosophic aspect: in Geology we always feel the difficulty to make time understandable. With our experience of time, Earth is eternal, doesn’t change, it’s the same yesterday as in last year or when we were children. How can we capture the effect of 350 million years of erosion and movement? Is there a role for human beings in the life of the Earth already with 4500 million years?
Special Participation: José Saramago
Direction: Rietske van Raay
Presentation: Rui Dias
Script: Rui Dias and Rietske van Raay
Image: António Menezes
Image archive: RTP/ University of Évora/ Association Live Science of Estremoz/ NASA – Visible Earth
Graphic: Rui Dias and Rietske van Raay
Cycle of Wilson Animation: Vitor Mabere
Audio and Video Post-production: Rietske van Raay
Narration: Teresa Martins
Original music: João Rodrigues:
Executive Producer: António Menezes
Acknowledgements: José Saramago, Pilar del Rio, Timanfaya Natural Park, Carlos Coke, University of Alto Douro and Trás-os-Montes, Library of the University of Évora, Isabel Leal Machado, Audiovisual Equipment Service of the University of Évora, Geo-Science Department of the University of Évora, António Ribeiro, University of Lisbon, Ornamental and Industrial Rocks Investigation Lab.
Supports: Caloute Gulbenkian Foundation, Mining and Geologic Institute, Eugénio de Almeida Foundation, Amperal SA
Production: Association Life Science of Estremoz
Organization: University of Évora and FIKE 2007
Évora University Auditorium: November 20th, 2007, 5.30pm
Film launch, with the presençe of José Saramago, Amin Maalouf and Jordi Savall
Scientific divulging video
Duração: 1h01min
Making of: Um Mundo Catita
Manuel João Vieira is an extremely charismatic figure who’s been having an important role in the Portuguese cultural life. Leader of several musical projects became famous by his artistic terrorism actions as well as by his candidature to the presidency in 2001.
Our objective was to use that talent to tell a story with epic proportions, which surely will conquer the old followers of the "Vieira phenomenon" and attract new publics.
"Um Mundo Catita" is a six-episode TV series produced in an independent way and in co-production by the Producers: Individeos and O Pato Profissional, Lda.
The theme and language of the series are inspired in the world and characters created by Manuel João Vieira but also in the greater hits of the last years in the American HBO. The influences in the script writing were from great audience series and adult contents, acclaimed by the critic as: "Seinfeld", "Oz", "Sopranos", Six Feet Under", "Deadwood" "Curb Your Enthusiasm" , "Rome", among others.
Shot in HDV and 16mm film, the series presents high production values and a cinematographic approach. Through the six episodes we can find dozens of decors built by a professional and talented direction and art team which worked hard to present a poetical version of the Great Lisbon where the action takes place.
In the cast we also counted on the participation of several actors and emblematic figures already known by the public.
FIKE has the pleasure of presenting the making of of this great series.