France / May 20, 1993 / Cannes Directors' Fortnight
Overall average
5.0/10
Trailer

Videos
Plot
Ema is a very attractive but innocent girl, so pretty that cars crash in her presence. In her youth she marries Dr. Carlos Paiva, her father's friend, to whom she is not attracted. They move to the valley of Abraham. Carlos loves her, but decides to sleep in a separate room to avoid waking Ema when he has to return late at night. As time goes by she begins to feel unhappy about her marriage, so she finds a new lover.
Main cast
Full cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| José Pinto | Caires |
| Filipe Cochofel | Fortunato |
| João Perry | Pedro Dossém |
| Glória de Matos | Maria do Loreto |
| António Reis | Semblano |
| Isabel Ruth | Ritinha |
| Dina Treno | Branca |
| Dalila Carmo | Marina |
| Sofia Alves | Lolota (little girl) |
| Beatriz Batarda | Luisona (little girl) / Young Ema (voice) |
| Júlia Buisel | Melo Sister #2 |
| Laura Soveral | Aunt Augusta |
| Miguel Guilherme | Motorcyclist |
| Marques D'Arede | Priest #1 |
| Mário Barroso | Narrator (voice) |
| Nuno Vieira de Almeida | Nelson |
| Argentina Rocha | Carlos' first wife |
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| Rui Oliveira | Rapaz Adolescente # 2 |
| Ricardo Trêpa | Extra |
| António Vaz Mendes | 1 Rapazola |
| Isabel de Castro |
Genres
Technical details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Original title | Vale Abraão |
| Original language | Português (PT) |
| Spoken languages | Português |
| Production countries | Portugal, Switzerland, France |
| Status | Released |
| Production companies | Gemini Films, Madragoa Filmes, Light Night |
| Release date | 1 settembre 1993 |
| Production | Paulo Branco |
| Writer | Agustina Bessa-Luís, Manoel de Oliveira |
| Editing | Valérie Loiseleux, Manoel de Oliveira |
| Cinematography | Mário Barroso |
| Assistant directors | Manoel de Oliveira |
| Camera operators | Mário Barroso |
| Additional photography | Mário Barroso |
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| Production design | Zé Branco |
| Art direction | Zé Branco |
| Set decoration | Zé Branco |
| Music | Henri Maïkoff |
| Sound | Henri Maïkoff |
| Costume design | Isabel Branco, Michelle Bernet |
| Makeup | Michelle Bernet, Isabel Branco |
| Hairstyling | Isabel Branco, Michelle Bernet |
Release dates
Premiere
United States / Sep 05, 1993 / Telluride Film Festival
Canada / Sep 12, 1993 / Toronto International Film Festival
Japan / Oct 03, 1993 / Tokyo Film Festival
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Brazil / Nov 04, 1993 / São Paulo International Film Festival
Netherlands / Jan 31, 1994 / International Film Festival Rotterdam
Sweden / Feb 05, 1994 / Goteborg Film Festival
Argentina / Nov 17, 1997 / Mar del Plata Film Festival
Czechia / Nov 22, 2002 / CinEd@ys Film Festival
South Korea / Oct 10, 2011 / Pusan International Film Festival
Hong Kong / Mar 31, 2024 / Hong Kong International Film Festival
Limited release
United States / Dec 22, 1993
Czechia / Jul 15, 2004 / 15+
France / Dec 15, 2010 / Cinémathèque française
Theatrical release
France / Sep 01, 1993
Portugal / Oct 15, 1993 / M/12
United States / Jan 21, 1994
Germany / Feb 03, 1994
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Spain / Jun 01, 1994
Belgium / Jun 15, 1994
United Kingdom / Sep 23, 1994
Japan / Oct 29, 1994
Netherlands / Nov 24, 1994
Sweden / Jan 01, 1999
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