O Pai Tirano

The 1940s are often referred to as a golden era of portuguese comedies and escapism was really the key word in most of them. But "O Pai Tirano" goes further than that. Deeper than that. A whole slice of life of the aspiring working class, aspiring to be urban low-middle class and respectable. A farce within a farce to have you laughing out loud. And some brilliantly subtle technic devices (for a very low budget film).

And then the acting talent of Vasco Santana, Ribeirinho, Leonor Maia(which for many movie lovers will always be the seemingly unnatainable "Tatão")and a supporting cast of wonderful players.

Perhaps against contemporary expectations it has proven to be an enduring classic. A gem of the small things that make us a human...