The Other One

'I am neither I nor the other one/I am something in between.' So wrote the Portuguese poet Mário de Sá-Carneiro, whose friendship with fellow-poet Fernando Pessoa during 1912-16 forms the 'documentary' material of this Syberbergian first feature by Botelho. The political and moral crisis in early 20th century Portugal, the impasse of exile and the seduction of death, are the key themes in this richly stylised, quasi-theatrical attempt to put poetry on the screen. Stylish, and not short of substance.