“These are clichés I can say, but it’s what I truly feel, it’s very cool to see our language out there,” said actor Rui Pedro Silva, who will be present today in Austin, Texas, for the screening of the film in which he stars.
“I am quite optimistic about the future of cinema in Portugal,” he stated, noting a “big difference” in recent years.
‘The Tree of Knowledge’ is a feature film written and directed by Eugène Green, co-produced between Portugal and France, which uses fantasy to question mass tourism in Portugal and address other Portuguese cultural themes.
“It’s not just a Portuguese film debuting in the United States, but it’s made with a director who speaks and films in French, Spanish, and Italian,” highlighted the actor.
The popularity of Portugal among American tourists is a highlight of the story, serving as a metaphor for a spiritual awakening. The audience experiences this journey through Gaspar, a teenager portrayed by Rui Pedro Silva who falls into the hands of a man who made a pact with the devil.
Called Ogre, this man (played by Diogo Dória) uses the teenager to lure tourists whom he transforms into animals and kills to sell their meat.
“The work of the film, which somewhat mirrors my character’s journey, is to understand that above all, it’s about love and not generalizing the crowd we see,” explained Rui Pedro Silva, emphasizing that the message is not just about pointing fingers.
“Above all, it’s about caring. We have to care for the people we receive, and the people must care for the country that receives them,” he considered.
Fleeing from Ogre and his servant Leitão (João Arrais), Gaspar is accompanied by two animals that become important characters in the story.
“I spent perhaps 70% of the shoot filming with a donkey and a dog,” said the actor, who learned tricks to get the animals to do what was needed for each scene. One trick involved stashing food under his arm to coax the donkey to lay its head there.
“This film is a space to reflect on ourselves and our choices as people and as human beings,” described Rui Pedro Silva. “Even though it’s fantastic, it’s not about monsters, it’s about not ceasing to be people,” he added.
Filmed in a style reminiscent of theater, with actors looking directly at the camera, ‘The Tree of Knowledge’ fluctuates between absurdity and comedy, including an encounter with Queen Maria I that serves as a metaphor “for all the ghosts we have in Portugal.”
A co-production between Som e a Fúria and Le Plein de Super, ‘The Tree of Knowledge’ also features Leonor Silveira (Hecatinha), Ana Moreira (Maria I), and Maria Gomes (Helena).
The premiere in Austin, Texas, precedes its screening in Portugal, as it will be the closing film of the 23rd edition of the Doclisboa festival, taking place from October 16 to 26.
