1618

Synopsis

This film is based on a true story: the visitation of the Inquisition to the city of Porto in 1618. At the time, the entire population was exhorted to denounce heresies under the pain of ex-communication. In a city where a large part of the population had Jewish ancestry, over one hundred New Christians, among others, were imprisoned, causing terror in the New Christian community, mass emigration, and the near-total destruction of the city’s economy. Friction between Porto’s judicial authorities, which had always been on good terms with the New Christians, and the inquisitorial visitation reached such a point that guards on horseback surrounded the ecclesiastical court, preventing the “heretics” in custody from being transported to Coimbra. The Visitor even traveled to Spain to give Philip II an account of the events that transpired.
The film’s main action unfolds in places similar to those existing at the time that has meanwhile been destroyed. Many characters actually existed in real life and took part in the facts as narrated in the film.

Credits

Luis Ismael- Director
The Centre for Historic Research of the Jewish Community of Oporto – Writer
Lightbox – Producer
Mafalda Banquart – “Key Cast”
Afonso Pacheco – “Key Cast”
Paulo Manso – “Key Cast”
Heitor Lourenço – “Key Cast”
Pedro Laginha – “Key Cast”
Francisco Beatriz – “Key Cast”
Catarina Lacerda – “Key Cast”