ARTICLE with José Dias

(2014) “Jazz on Portuguese film: Belarmino (1964) and Alice (2005)—Two Milestones”

This article marks my first collaboration in academic publications. It brings together two Portuguese emerging jazz scholars: me, with a deep interest in the historical development of jazz in Portugal during the New State (Estado Novo) regime, and its distinct media representations. And my dear colleague, José Dias, with a focus on contemporary Portugal.

In a broad historical perspective on Portuguese cinema, both Belarmino (1964) and Alice (2005) play decisive roles. The first is an inescapable reference for understanding what Portuguese Cinema Novo (New Cinema) was and the artistic rupture that occurred in Portugal in the 1960s during Salazar’s dictatorship. While the second also marks a breakup from former Portuguese filmmaking and a rapprochement to broader film audiences. Yet, both films have jazz influences in their soundtracks, not just by chance but also as a relevant circumstance. Both films, and their music form a wealth of information about Portuguese society and its jazz community at two different times: the first one, in the sixties under Salazar’s New State regime; and the second film, at the beginning of the 21st century as a full member of the European Union.