Acto da Primavera

RITE OF SPRING

POPULAR REPRESENTATION OF THE ACT OF THE PASSION

Cinematographic version by MANOEL DE OLIVEIRA.

Performed by the people of the village of CURALHA - CHAVES.

Production and direction by MANOEL DE OLIVEIRA.

Our ACTS, corresponding to the French and English MYSTERIES,

date back to the Middle Ages. In some remote villages of Portugal

they are still preserved by tradition, and always interpreted by common people.

This film tells the Passion of the Christ using one of these representations, and

more in the sense of seeking the original feelings, than in exploring

the picturesque and the anachronisms that it doesn't show or despises.

In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

He was with God in the beginning.

Through him all things were made; Without him nothing was made that has been made.

In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Hey guys, come hear this!

“The conquest of space and the next trip to the moon.

Preparations continue for the next trip to the moon.

Sending a man to the conquest of space is imminent.”

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

“The first attempt to put a man in space will be a relatively short flight.

The chosen astronaut will travel in a capsule contained in a missile.”

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

“Then if all goes well, just a few days before,

it will be known who will be the chosen one for space pioneer.”

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake,

for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

“For the second day...

For the second consecutive day,

scientists who used the giant radio telescope have been vigilant...”

“Holy Thursday:”

“Act of the Passion”

“Holy Thursday: Act of the Passion”.

This is the announcement of the Act.

Who's next?

- Well, be careful with the razor. - Don't worry.

I have an important role to play in the Act.

So have l. All of us have.

We all have an important role in this Act.

- You got a beautiful dress. - It's for you to see.

- I've never seen you dressed like that. - But now you see.

- You've lost your mind. - She's not herself.

Give me some water.

Why do you, a Jew, make a request for water to me, a woman of Samaria?

If you knew who I was, you'd ask me my water,

this life-giving water,

and whoever drinks of this water will never be thirsty for all eternity.

Don't sit on the rocks of my well because my husband isn't here.

Yes, go get your husband, five you had.

But this whom you are with is not your husband.

Everyone come and see! The man is Christ,

the promised Messiah who guessed all my past.

Everyone come and see! The man is Christ,

the promised Messiah who guessed all my past.

Everyone come and see! The man is Christ,

the promised Messiah who guessed all my past.

Everyone come and see! The man is Christ,

the promised Messiah who guessed all my past.

You, sir, will go all in yellow, shorts, a hood and this cloak on top.

Damn, I burnt myself.

Wow, how cute!

We can't miss this!

Darling, the life of Christ. How boring.

For these guys! It's fun, it's great.

Look at those guys. Look at them.

Silence!

Turn it on.

It's on.

Clapperboard.

01B01 2nd Time.

Come.

Behold this any sinner,

the Eternal Father, for giving forgiveness,

sent his son, the restorer

of the first sin of the human generation.

May the priors also behold

how gentle and benign comes the Lord.

May the subjects see, with great fear,

the obedience that the eleven have.

Sad tears leave the eyes

of those who are his devouts!

The dragon Caiaphas will curse him,

there will be slaps and retching too,

there he'll be stripped of those vests,

there he will be denied by St. Peter.

Also in the play, for all to see,

Herod, Veronica, and the crucifixion,

the taking down from the cross and the burial.

If I was wrong, please forgive me.

And so you don't get bored,

I want to end my speech,

because by its author is stated

all the Passion, as you wish.

Hosanna!

Hosanna! Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Blessed be the name of the Lord. Hosanna to the Son of David!

Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Blessed be the name of the Lord.

If you're master, tell them to keep quiet.

Can't you see that they annoy everyone with those screams and voices.

I tell you that if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.

Rivers, mountains and seas may proclaim the glory of the One who sent me.

This is my day.

Don't you hear what they say with those screams and voices,

annoying everyone?

Yes, I hear. But have you never read what it is written?

“'From the lips of children and infants

you, Lord, have called forth your praise.”

Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Blessed be the name of the Lord. Hosanna to the Son of David!

Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Blessed be the name of the Lord. Hosanna to the Son of David!

Jerusalem, Jerusalem,

how often would I have gathered you, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings.

Do you see the sumptuous temple here?

Someday there will not be left here one stone upon another.

You will be a heap of ruins because you didn't recognize the day God visited you.

- Five escudos ! - Seven.

- Seven escudos ! - Eight.

- Eight escudos . - Nine.

Nine escudos , who bids higher? Nine escudos , who bids higher?

- Ten. - 10 escudos .

- Eleven. - 11 escudos .

- Twelve. - 12 escudos .

- Thirteen. - 13, who bids higher?

- Fourteen. - 14 escudos , who bids higher?

- Fifteen. - 15, who bids higher?

Get out of the temple, merchants.

This is a house of prayer, it is not a trading house,

it is not a thieves den. You brood of vipers!

What took you so long? Tell us. Amaze us.

I come very weakened, I come very disavowed,

because since I've been at it,

I tell Your Lordship, I've seen so much of Christ,

if this is too much, much more is to be a spy.

- Is this all? - It can't be.

There was not enough time,

nor there was enough paper where to write.

He does so many wonders, his miracles are evident.

He's Lord of the elements, heavenly planets,

he is obeyed by the winds, sun, moon, firmament,

snakes and everything else.

How can you talk like that? It seems you're one of them!

It's a thing I've never seen or heard of the ancient ones, from Adam to Moses.

Let's gather together here in council,

as you're wiser and rulers of the people, tell us what we should do.

He contradicts everything we said and calls himself the Son of God,

that's why we blame him, let's kill him together because he's defaming us.

We'll avenge our betrayals, and fulfill our desires,

let's press charges based on such reasons, without formalities.

According to my opinion, by reason and justice,

let's swear to arrest him and act against him

without any laziness.

Let him die by our hands!

If he lives, he'll act against us the Romans,

and he'll take with his hands, our places and people.

As we decided between ourselves,

let him die crucified to abuse him more. Caiaphas, what do you say?

You all must know because we are required by law,

this man must die so that the people don't get lost, let's keep this quiet.

And, because there's no time to lose,

to Jesus of Nazareth a sentence of death, because he says he's our King.

Do what you will do, you don't want to lose more.

Go sell your Master to the house of Caiaphas.

There you'll find the Jews at your disposal.

They'll instantly give you thirty pieces of silver,

and they will be well paid, and they'll make you do other things.

If I had the ointment, I would made a good deal!

I swear that I would get richer, more than 100 in money.

I have in my senses what he made me lose,

I'm going to sell him and delivery him to the Jews.

How I'm devastated and so full of suffering!

Three hundred or more you could have made,

a nice jerkin and much more fun.

Is anybody there?

My lord!

I kiss your noble hands, I'm Judas Iscariot, your great servant.

And you can't catch him because you can't find him,

if you want to bribe me I'll see that you have him.

We'll give how much you want, if you spy him,

and if you don't fool us you'll always have in our place a good company.

Give me the 30 pieces of silver that he made me lose.

See here, already counted the thirty pieces of silver.

Now, Judas be sure to do it right,

and immediately call us.

And you be all equipped for when I call you,

because those who love him are so zealous that they won't fear 20...

even if they are armed.

Rabbi Abraham, go call the centurion.

Bribe him beforehand, tell him the reason and to come help us.

My much beloved sons, it's necessary and convenient,

to go up to Jerusalem in order to fulfill the prophecies.

The son of man will come, he'll be arrested and scourged,

killed and buried.

On the third day he will rise again.