Descriptions of the Project
“The Queen’s Orphans” is a project of a motion picture that approaches Brazilian history though a feminine point of view. Such singular perspective had as a first result the movie “Rose Wine”, which portraits the Insurgency in Minas Gerais, under the point of view of Tiradentes daughter. (www.vinhoderosas.com).
The present proposition focuses in another important moment of our history: the visitation of the Portuguese Holy Office. We intend to accompany, though a path of three New-Christians sisters, the role of the Portuguese inquisition in the colony.
The Brazilian inquisition is an original and instigating theme but a history fact unknown and rare in the Brazilian cinematography. The creation of the Portuguese Holy Office, the fear of the inquisition and the possibility of good business on the lands beyond the sea brought a significant number of New-Christians to migrate to Brazil in the second part of the XVI century. The taint of blood was not enough to stop the concession of allotment or economic contracts. Until the year of 1951 when the First Visitation of the Holy office in Brazilian lands; an eloquent example of the Spanish way to govern its Iberian colonies. The New Christina origin begins to burn again as an open scar.
In Brazil the Visitor of the Holy Office was Heitor de Mendonça. He was received with great ostentation among oafs of loyalty to the colony’s authorities. Produce, read, and post the Faith Edict that investigated the accusation and the confession of heretic acts by the Monitory. In it, were pointed out acts of Jews, but also other heretic crimes, as well as the ones of moral and sexual tone assimilated by the various reasons of errors of faith. A wave of accusations sweeps Bahia and Pernambuco.
The most cruel injurious was the success of the many inquiring that made the solidarity among people to decrease, ruining family loyalty, breaking friendships, braking ties of neighborhoods, affections, and passions. Also awaking grudges, renew hostility, and quarrels. It was in that century that the Queen of Portugal had decided to send to Brazil orphans, so they could get married. As a dowry those ladies took for they’re future husbands the promise of an office employment in the Colony’s administration. Actually, to populate Portuguese America was the reason for those weddings blessed by Misses Catharine.
“The Queen’s Orphans” begins by the real existence of such characters, but inserts fictional elements. And so, we are inserted in this historical and fictional domain that is not only fascinating but, demands care and deep researching. On the example of “Rose Wine” the process of preparation for this film includes the achievement of documentaries, researches of history, iconography, habits and linguistics. This research involves also a workshop with the actors in the attempt to widen the meaning of the film. During that process, we produced the documentary “The Saint Visitation”.
As a category not much represented in Brazil, the historical film can become an instrument of knowledge capable to deal with the memory of a country in a constructive way, and also can culturally fulfill the citizens of a nation. It can also be a pedagogical tool and an entertainment of quality. Containing these qualities, the historical film has been bringing more and more audience, from specialists to people who are interested in the subject.
To sum up, “The Queen’s Orphans” is mainly a movie about intolerance; a mater that unfortunately, has been crossing over centuries.
Justification for the support
The Brazilian movie industry finds itself in a phase of quantity expansion, of quality acknowledgment and theme range. However, the relation between Motion pictures and History is not very much developed; approaching historical facts through the image demands disposition for research and a specific preoccupation with aesthetic detail. The academic experience of Elza Catalo allows a base for this kind of production. Beyond that, historical films allow us to extrapolate the entertaining characteristics so we can act also in the formation of the citizen; reinforcing the understanding that the movies ca also be a powerful instrument of citizenship and validation of the identity of a country.
On the other hand, the famine approach in the cinematographic area can bring a different point of view and stimulate new ways of communication the Brazilian movie Industry.
Synopsis
Mécia, Brites, and Leonor were raised under the protection of the queen of Portugal after the death of their parents in the fire of the Inquisition. When they grew up, they were forced to wed in Brazil as part of a strategy to populate the Portuguese colony. The Jesuit Fernão Cardim takes rigorous measures so that the weddings would become real according to the laws of the Saint Catholic Church, even on pagan lands. The New-Christian origin goes unknown among the diversity of the residents of the New World. However, when the Inquisitor arrives to Brazil the three sisters are accused of heresy, witchcraft, and bigamy. In their trial they stay together watching the treason between families, neighbors, and friends. But the feeling of fraternity is put to test before the threat of severe punishment. Heitor Furtado de Mendonça exceeds his functions as inquisitor. Leonor asks for the intervention of the Queen.
Value
Project approved by ANCINE – National Cinema Agency
Value authorized for the obtain values though the law 8.685/93 9 (Audiovisual Law): R$ 827.622,67.
Value authorized for the obtain values though the law art.1ºA law 8.685/93: R$ 413.811,34
Total of: R$.1.241.434, 00
Sponsor quote and counterparts
The values approved for the obtainment can be divided in quotes according to the possibilities of the company. The sponsoring company might have as a possibility of return of the investment and fiscal advantages, insertion of the companies name in the following spaces:
1. Movie’s credit;
2. Invitations to a selected list;
3. Posters fixated in movie theatres, festivals, universities, state agencies, cultural centers and public locations;
4. Material sent to the writing press and electronic web;
5. Banners in the location of the movie’s premier;
6. VHS cassettes and DVD;
7. Movie website in the Internet;
8. Others (specific cases).
Direction and writing: Elza Cataldo
Elza Cataldo has her undergraduate degree in Cinematography at the University of Nanterre in France. She acquired her PhD in Educational Politics at Sorbonne, Paris. She is also a researcher of CNPq and INEP, Professor at UFMG and PUC, from 1978 from 1992. She is also a cinematographic exhibitioner in Belo Horizonte from 1992 and 2006. Assistant director in “Amor & Cia” directed by Helvécio Ratton. Director and writer of the documentary of the motion picture “Rose Wine” (www.vinhoderosas.com), of the documentary “The Saint Visitation” and motion picture “ The Actress’s Crime”; Director of the film production Persona Films and distribution Usina Digital. Coordinator of the Cineport Laboratory of Screen Plays 2007.
Production: Persona Films
Phone/Fax: +55 31 3547-3140
E-mail: filmes@personafilmes.com.br
Website: www.personafilmes.com.br
Picadilly Avenue 155, sala 205, Center V
Alphaville - Lagoa dos Ingleses
Nova Lima – MG
Zip Code 34.000-000
