British Universities Film & Video Council

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Architect and the Old Village, The

Synopsis
Álvaro Siza Vieira, a famous visionary Portuguese architect, is called to coordinate the rehabilitation of the monuments and architectonic heritage of Cidade Velha (Old Village) in Santiago, one of the African islands of Cape Verde. This project creates great expectations among the local population, who envisage it as a way of improving their quality of life. The film explores the relationship and the conflict between these two worlds, two cultures, with different ideas of what modernity and progress mean.

The film reflects with humour the idea that tradition is a new value of the modern era, the relationship between the people of Cidade Velha and the team and finally, the role of Siza who in his calm and timid manner, manages to understand and incorporate all conflicts and questions by planning, deciding, imagining and, above all, by drawing intensively.
Language
English
Year of release
2006
Year of production
2003
Subjects
Anthropology; Architecture; Development studies
Keywords
Cape Verde; restoration - art and architecture; social anthropology; African culture

Online availability

URI
http://www.der.org/films/the-architect-and-the-old-village.html
Price
$19.95 (download) $9.95 (day pass)
Delivery
Streamed/Download

Credits

Director
Catarine Alves Costa
Contributor
Alvaro Siza Vieira

Distribution Formats

Type
DVD
Format
Region 1
Price
$195.00
Availability
Sale
Duration/Size
70 minutes
Year
2006

Distributor

Name

Documentary Educational Resources

Email
docued@der.org
Web
http://der.org/ External site opens in new window
Phone
+1 617 926 0491
Fax
+1 617 926 9519
Address
101 Morse Street
Watertown
MA 02472
USA
Notes
American company with an extensive catalogue of documentary films from around the world in the areas of ethnology, anthropology, world cultures, religion, women’s studies and human rights. Supplied on PAL/NTSC video and multi-region DVD, or download via the Reframe Collection (qv).

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