Synopsis
In which Scheherazade doubts that she will still be able to tell stories to please the King, given that what she has to tell weighs three thousand tonnes. She therefore escapes from the palace and travels the Kingdom in search of pleasure and enchantment. Her father, the Grand-Vizier, arranges to meet her at the Ferris wheel, and Scheherazade resumes her narration: “Auspicious King, in old shanty towns of Lisbon there was a community of bewitched men who, in all rigour and passion, dedicated themselves to teaching birds to sing…”. And seeing the morning break, Scheherazade fell silent.
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Cast
- Crista AlfaiateXerazade / Condessa Beatriz
- Bernardo AlvesPassarinheiro
- Carloto CottaPaddleman
- Américo SilvaGrão-Vizir
- Louison TresalletChild
- Gonçalo WaddingtonPassarinheiro
- Chico ChapasPassarinheiro
Recommendations
- 100
Village Voice
This is a masterpiece not because it culminates in some redemptive catharsis or clinching argument for social change, but because, by disavowing such facile ends, it meets the mess of life on its own clear and true terms. - 100
CineVue
Gomes has created something truly unique and remarkable; a rally cry against the powers that have choked the fire out of his country and a love song to those he sees rekindling the flame. Its constituent parts may not be perfect, but what a stunning whole. - 88
RogerEbert.com
As the themes, characters and ideas from the first two parts begin to reappear, so too do full-figured women and gorgeous, semi-nude men right out of the earthly kingdoms of Pasolini. - 83
The A.V. Club
The movies may be, in part, about fantasy, but they always look like they’re from somewhere very real. - 83
The Playlist
It’s dizzying stuff, and virtually everything that Gomes tries his hand to works: it’s a film that’s moving, sad, exciting, fiery, and funny. - 80
The Guardian
What a delicate, elegant marvel these movies have been. - 80
Total Film
The great thing about Arabian Nights is that if one story isn't to your liking, another pops up, so the decision to give this tale a feature-length running time is perplexing. But quibbles aside, this is daring, magical filmmaking. - 75
Slant Magazine
Miguel Gomes combats austerity with expansiveness, leavened by doses of frivolity and scatology.
