Ossos
Directed by Pedro Costa • 1997 • France, Netherlands, Portugal
The first film in Pedro Costa's transformative trilogy about Fontainhas, an impoverished quarter of Lisbon, OSSOS is a tale of young lives torn apart by desperation. After a suicidal teenage girl gives birth, she misguidedly entrusts her baby's safety to the troubled, deadbeat father, whose violent actions take the viewer on a tour of the foreboding, crumbling shantytown in which they live. With its reserved, shadowy cinematography by Emmanuel Machuel (who collaborated with Bresson on L'argent), OSSOS is a haunting look at a devastated community.
-
Ossos
Directed by Pedro Costa • 1997 • France, Netherlands, Portugal
The first film in Pedro Costa's transformative trilogy about Fontainhas, an impoverished quarter of Lisbon, OSSOS is a tale of young lives torn apart by desperation. After a suicidal teenage girl gives birth, she misguidedly entrusts...
Extras
-
Pedro Costa and Jean-Pierre Gorin on OSSOS
This conversation between filmmakers Pedro Costa and Jean-Pierre Gorin was filmed in New York City in August 2009.
-
Joao Benard da Costa on OSSOS
Joao Benard da Costa (1935–2009) was the head of the Portuguese Cinematheque in Lisbon from 1991 to 2009 and Pedro Costa’s loyal friend and supporter. The following comments about OSSOS were recorded in 2004.
-
Emmanuel Machuel on OSSOS
Prior to photographing Pedro Costa’s OSSOS and CASA DE LAVA (1994), acclaimed cinematographer Emmanuel Machuel collaborated with a number of extraordinary directors, shooting L’ARGENT for Robert Bresson and VAN GOGH for Maurice Pialat. This interview was conducted at Machuel’s house by Aurelien G...
-
Jeff Wall on OSSOS
In this video essay, celebrated contemporary artist Jeff Wall, known for his sumtuous large-scale photographs and his love of cinema, examines the power of Pedro Costa’s images. His words are presented alongside visuals from OSSOS.
