Film Series: Paulo Rocha and Isabel Ruth

Planos – Tomar International Short Film Festival, in collaboration with the Cinemateca Portuguesa – Museu do Cinema, presents a film series dedicated to Paulo Rocha and Isabel Ruth, two outstanding figures in the history of Portuguese cinema.

Through screenings of Os Verdes Anos (1963) and O Rio do Ouro (1998), this series invites audiences to discover two landmark works in Paulo Rocha’s filmography, both starring Isabel Ruth. From the aesthetic and narrative renewal that defined Portuguese New Cinema to the tragic and poetic dimension of a later work, these films reveal Paulo Rocha’s distinctive vision and Isabel Ruth’s powerful performances, in an artistic collaboration spanning several decades.

Born in Tomar, Isabel Ruth has built a singular career in Portuguese cinema, working with some of Portugal’s and the world’s most important filmmakers. Her collaboration with Paulo Rocha gave rise to unforgettable characters and performances that continue to hold a central place in Portuguese cinematic memory.

Screened in digitised and restored prints by the Cinemateca Portuguesa – Museu do Cinema, these two films offer an opportunity to rediscover this cinematic heritage through renewed projection quality, highlighting the importance of preserving and sharing fundamental works of Portuguese culture.

With this film series, Planos reaffirms its connection to the history of cinema and pays tribute to two artists whose work continues to inspire new generations of filmmakers and audiences.