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No, or the Vain Glory of Command (1990)
Director: Manoel de Oliveira
Cast: Luis Miguel Cintra, Miguel Guilherme, Diogo Dória, Luís Lucas
Runtime107 min
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Episodes from throughout the entire military history of Portugal are told through flashbacks as a conscripted student of history recounts them to his fellow soldiers while they march through an African colony in revolt during 1973.
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Fans of acclaimed Portuguese director Manoel de Oliveira's distinctive style and exploration of history and human nature will find much to appreciate in this 1990 war drama, which uses a conscripted student's recounting of Portugal's military past to provide an insightful and visually striking commentary on the nature of conflict and power.
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No, or the Vain Glory of Command is a 1990 Portuguese film directed by Manoel de Oliveira. Starring Luís Miguel Cintra and Miguel Guilherme, the film portrays a series of defeats in Portuguese military history—such as the assassination of Viriathus, the Battle of Toro, the failed attempt at Iberian Union under Afonso of Portugal and Isabella of Spain, and the Battle of Alcácer Quibir. Additionally, it includes the episode of the Island of Love from The Lusiads. These events are recounted through flashbacks as a Portuguese lieutenant, stationed in an African territory during the Portuguese Colonial War (1961–74), narrates them while marching in 1974. He effortlessly draws his comrades into philosophical discussions, even as their small contingent endures surprise attacks from independence guerrillas.
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