The Jewish Community of Oporto’s first feature film, "Sefarad" (2018), directed by Luís Ismael, was screened last Thursday, 6th February, in the auditorium of the Cultural Centre (Paços da Cultura) of the northern Portuguese city of São João da Madeira. The screening was the second session in 2025 of the City Hall’s cinema promotion project "Cine S. João", curated by the president of Cine Clube de Arouca, João Rita.
Both Michael Rothwell, representing the Jewish Community of Oporto, and the film’s director, Luís Ismael, were present as special guests, to discuss the film with the audience.
Based on real events, the film tells the story of the Jewish Community of Oporto, reborn in the early 20th Century, 400 years after Judaism had been banned in Portugal by King D. Manuel I, forcing Jews to leave the country or become New Christians. The Community’s founder, Captain Barros Basto, a decorated Portuguese army captain, becomes aware of the Marranos -descendants of the New Christians who still cling to Jewish beliefs - and makes it his life’s work to bring them back to mainstream Judaism. In the process, and with international support, he builds a great synagogue in Oporto, which resonates with Jewish life during the 2nd World War as many Jewish refugees make the city their temporary home as they escape from Europe. The Captain and his family fight for justice for decades after he is expelled from the army following an antisemitic ruling in 1937, achieving success only in 2012, a time at which the Community starts a period of remarkable growth, after decades of the magnificent synagogue being practically empty.
The screening of the film was preceded by a short video, made by João Rita, presenting the two guests and the film, and an introduction to the film by Michael Rothwell and Luís Ismael.
After the film, there was a discussion of the film led by the two guests, during which João Rita, who is keen to promote Portuguese films, noted that the Community’s films are the only quality period films made in Portugal, and the two city councillors present - Irene Guimarães (Education) and Paula Gaio (Social Action), showed their appreciation of the quality of the film and the importance of the story, which they believe young people should see.
