Os Canibais (1988): reparto, argumento y streaming

Released in 1988, Os Canibais is a fantasía and drama film directed by Manoel de Oliveira, running about 95 minutes. “A drama following stories of characters from the Portuguese High Society.” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. This odd film is a major representative of an even odder film genre: direct-to-celluloid opera. It was commissioned by the Portuguese master of style, director Manoel de Oliveira from composer João Paes. Musically, it ranges from 19th-century romanticism to popular, modernist and even "post-modernist" styles. In the initially tame story, a host-narrator tells the story of a wedding between the two lovebirds: Viscount d'Aveleda and the beautiful Marguerite. However, what happens in the bridal chamber is incredibly bizarre. The events after that are even stranger (the film out-does even Luis Buñuel in that department), and the wedding guests and family indulge in cannibalism, among other perversions.

Who’s in it. Os Canibais stars Luís Miguel Cintra as Viscount d'Aveleda, Leonor Silveira as Margarida, Diogo Dória as Don João and Oliveira Lopes as The Presenter (lago), among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 6.8/10, Os Canibais has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Os Canibais page.

If you liked it. Fans of Os Canibais tend to enjoy El señor de los anillos: El retorno del rey, La milla verde, El viaje de Chihiro and El señor de los anillos: La comunidad del anillo.