We judge a society by the state of its prisons, as stated by authors like Nelson Mandela, Albert Camus, or Dostoievski… But within the paradigm of a society which so often avoids facing its own problems, who would want to look at these places; and, above all, who would want to look at the men and women who are imprisoned?
Breaking the Bars is a programme that aims to showcase the prison-world and its operational aspects, through a cycle of films and debates, concerts, an exhibition, and the cycle’s extension to the establishment of the prisons of Linhó and Tires. As Angela Davis and Gina Dent state in their abolitionist project, in order to create a critical view it's necessary to know and get closer to the reality one is critical about. The ideal would be a prison-free society - but how to imagine this scenario without knowing what actually happens behind the prison walls?
Arts may provide a way to bring both worlds together, through words, feelings and senses. This is one of the main goals throughout this programmed cycle.
It’s true that there’s a mystery surrounding the prisons, as a matter that has remained interesting in cinema and literature. However, instead of bringing communities closer to these isolated and purposefully hidden places, this interest has, paradoxically, pushed people away.
But can, and shall cinematic representations, for instance, replace a true knowledge of the prison’s universe, and bring us closer to that reality? What is the role and responsibility of arts and culture towards breaching the distance between these two worlds - the inside and the outside of the walls - which are much more related and similar than what we are willing to accept?
Through our special cycle Breaking the Bars, LEFFEST aims to, on one hand, bring our audience closer to the prison's lived experiences and, on the other hand, to bring cinema closer to prisoners.
Hence the planning of this cycle, materialized in a complex set of unique events.
CONVERSATIONS AND DEBATES
Abolitionism, with Angela Davis and Gina Dent
Tuesday, 15th of November, 9pm, Tivoli BBVA
The Gaza Strip, an open-air prison? Together with Malak Mattar and Kamal Aljafari.
Following the projection of The Roof, by Malak Mattar
Wednesday, 16th of November, 8:30pm, Cultural Center Olga Cadaval
From the prison to freedom: Reading letters written behind bars.
Reading letters from Jean-Genet, George Jackson, Camilo Castelo Branco, Dostoievski, amongst others, with surprise-guests.
Thursday, 17th of November, 5pm, Cultural Center Olga Cadaval
The cinematic representation of prisons, with Michael Fassbender.
About the actor’s interpretation in the movie Hunger, directed by Steve McQueen.
Friday, 18th of November, 9:30pm, Cultural Center Olga Cadaval
Culture inside the prison: Testimonies, with Dino D’Santiago and Filipe Neves (A.E. Alcabideche), the Project “Opera in the Prison” and Casota Collective.
Followed by the projection of unseen shots from inside the prison
Saturday, 19th of November, 3pm, Centro Cultural Olga Cadaval.
The cinematic representation of prisons, with Brigitte Sy.
Following the projection of Les Mains Libres.
Sunday, 20th of November, 2pm, Cinema Medeia Nimas.
SHOWS
Concert of Dino D’Santiago who participated in the project JBL - Jovens Beats do Linhó [Young Beats of Linhó], for musical writing at the School of the Prisional Establishment of Linhó
Friday, 11th of November, 9pm, Grande Auditório Centro Cultural Olga Cadaval
A minha história não é igual à tua, a show conceived within Corpoemcadeia, an artistic project developed by the company Olga Roriz, with a group of inmates from the Prison Establishment of Linhó.
Sunday, 13th of November, 5pm, Big Auditorium of the Cultural Center Olga Cadaval
EXHIBITION
At MU.SA, in Sintra, a one-of-a-kind exhibition entitled “Art Amongst Ruins: Artistic Sublimation in the Gaza Strip”, showcasing the work of painter and author Malak Mattar. Vernissage on Sunday, 13th of November, open for visiting until the 29th of January.
FILMS
November 10, 1pm, Medeia Nimas Cinema
Le Trou (1960), by Jacques Becker
November 11, 10am, Medeia Nimas Cinema
A Prophet (2009), by Jacques Audiard
November 12, 3:30pm, Olga Cadaval Cultural Center
A Man Escaped (1956), by Robert Bresson
November 12, 6pm, Olga Cadaval Cultural Center
Carandiru (2004), by Hector Babenco
November 13, 4:30pm, Olga Cadaval Cultural Center
There was a crooked man (1970), by Joseph L. Mankiewicz
November 14, 11am, Medeia Nimas Cinema
The Sound Before the Fury (2014), by Lola Frederich and Martin Sarrazac
With the presence of Lola Frederich
November 14, 4:30pm, Olga Cadaval Cultural Center
Stranger Inside (2001), by Cheryl Dunye
November 14, 6:30pm, Olga Cadaval Cultural Center
Cool Hand Luke (1967), by Stuart Rosenberg
November 15, 6:30pm, Olga Cadaval Cultural Center
Escape From Alcatraz (1979), by Don Siegel
November 16, 8:30pm, Olga Cadaval Cultural Center
The Roof (2006), by Kamal Aljafari
November 18, 3pm, Olga Cadaval Cultural Center
Cesare Deve Morire (2012), by Vittorio and Paolo Taviani
November 18, 9:30pm, Olga Cadaval Cultural Center
Hunger (2008), by Steve McQueen
With the participation of actor Michael Fassbender
November 20, 12pm, Olga Cadaval Cultural Center
YOL (1982), by Serif Goren
November 20, 2pm, Olga Cadaval Cultural Center
Les Mains Libres (2010), by Brigitte Sy
Talk with director Brigitte Sy
November 20, 6pm, Olga Cadaval Cultural Center
New York 1997 (1981), by John Carpenter
We would also highlight a very special endeavour, starting during LEFFEST and prolonged throughout the upcoming months: to extend the festival to two prison establishments - the Prison Establishment of Linhó and Tires -, by projecting films and introducing conversational debates between prisoners and diverse guests.