Directed by Luís Ismael
Narrative Feature
Portugal | 2019 | 90 min
In Portuguese, and English
with English subtitles
This epic and absorbing historical drama recounts the story of the Jews in Portugal since 1496, when King D. Manuel prohibited Judaism. Officially, the Jewish community disappears, although in many villages crypto-Judaism is kept alive. It is not until the end of the Inquisition in the nineteenth century that the Jews slowly begin to return to Portugal. A small community of Ashkenazi Jews settle in Porto, and they are joined by a Portuguese military officer. His mission is to find and bring back the hidden Jews who practice crypto-Judaism. This project, although heroic, does not have the desired outcome, but, years later and five centuries after King Manuel’s edict led to the mass exodus of the Jewish community, a new law promoted their return to the land they had been forced to forsake. SEFARAD is a timely film that will make you reflect on the true worth of faith, love, and valor.
Luís Ismael
Luís Ismael is a Portuguese producer, director, and founder of the production company Lightbox, which is the largest film producer in Northern Portugal. SEFARAD is Luís’s fifth feature film and recounts the story of the Jews in Portugal from 1496 until today. He is working with the Jewish community for which he has also produced THE NUN’S KADDISH and the movie “1618” on the Inquisition.