A film depicting the life of Nuno Álvares Pereira, known as the Constable, premieres today at the Center for Interpretation of the Battle of Aljubarrota (CIBA), in São Jorge, Porto de Mós, Leiria district.
On the 655th anniversary of the birth of Nuno Álvares Pereira, CIBA debuts a commission by Johan Schelfhout, intended to enhance the museum’s programming with daily screenings available for regular visitors.
“In this film, we will uncover who Nuno Álvares Pereira truly was—not only as a military man but also as a political figure wielding power, and ultimately, a religious man at the end of his life,” explained the Belgian director to the Lusa news agency.
Schelfhout, who previously directed ‘The Battle of Aljubarrota’ (2008), also shown at CIBA, and ‘Battle of Atoleiros’ (2010) for the Center for Interpretation of the Battle of Atoleiros in Fronteira, Portalegre, rose to the challenge of creating a biographical proposal on Nuno Álvares Pereira.
“We aim to convey that he was an exceptional figure, often called the ‘right hand’ of King João [I], yet both shared mutual vision and embarked on this grand adventure of the new Aviz dynasty.”
Complementing ‘The Battle of Aljubarrota,’ ‘Nuno Álvares Pereira’ unveils “a crucial figure in Portuguese history,” who became “the second richest man in Portugal, just behind King João himself.”
“These are aspects we don’t often discuss, and there was even a fallout with the King over this, which we recount here,” Johan Schelfhout anticipates.
The filmmaker hopes visitors will “gain some insight into what life was like in the Middle Ages,” where “many things resembled our time,” such as “the power games that also existed.”
Despite being a narrative laden with battles, Schelfhout highlights a message tied to the end of Nuno Álvares Pereira’s life:
“It’s crucial to understand this spiritual journey and realize that violence isn’t necessarily the answer to everything. Salvation lies in religion, not in war achievements,” he reflects, regarding the man canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in 2009 as Saint Nuno of Saint Mary.
The film was shot in the Monastery and Castle of Alcobaça in Leiria district and at the Alter Stud Farm in Portalegre district, featuring actors like Gonçalo Waddington as Nuno Álvares Pereira, Nuno Nunes as King João I, Elmano Sancho as João das Regras, and João Lagarto as Gil Airas.
On Monday, at the preview of ‘Nuno Álvares Pereira,’ António Ramalho, chairman of the board of the Battle of Aljubarrota Foundation (FBA), overseeing CIBA, remarked that the Constable “is, in our imagination, in the imagination of all Portuguese, a symbol of daring, courage, audacity, and results.”
At CIBA, which annually receives “350 schools and about 20,000 students,” “it would be impossible for the Battle of Aljubarrota Foundation not to add a new film dedicated to Nuno Álvares Pereira alongside the Royal Battle film we have here.”
The production, Antonio Ramalho added, is 45 minutes long, “just the duration of this decisive battle, not just for Portugal, not only for Europe, but especially for the world.”
At CIBA, the FBA head also announced the opening “next month” of another foundation project: the Center for Interpretation of the Battle of Restoration.
In Borba, Évora district, the new venue will be focused on the period from 1578 to 1668, covering the loss of independence to the Restoration, highlighting the Battle of Montes Claros between Estremoz and Vila Viçosa, fought on June 17, 1665, the last of a series of battles securing Portugal’s sovereignty.
