Entertainment · Film · 4 hrs ago
João Nicolau’s film explores art across two eras at São Paulo festival
A Providência e a Guitarra is screening at the 50th São Paulo Film Festival in Brazil.
Portuguese director João Nicolau’s film follows artists in two periods: the 19th century and the present.
The same actors appear in both eras, and the film does not explain why time shifts between them.
Art connects the characters’ dreams with their struggles, from a painter’s work to a disrespected actor’s play.
The story draws on a tale by Robert Louis Stevenson and moves between playful scenes in the past and a more sombre present-day band facing tensions and an unexpected pregnancy.
Nicolau uses slow conversations and an open, sometimes improvised style to resist the fast pace of contemporary media.
The film also considers how artists see their work and the state’s treatment of art, but no next steps are given.
João Nicolau’s film “A Providência e a Guitarra” is showing at the 50th São Paulo Film Festival.
The film follows artists in two eras, with the same actors playing characters in both.
It draws on a short story by Robert Louis Stevenson and presents art as a force shaping the characters’ lives.
Nicolau says the film’s non-linear approach reflects his view that life is not always logical.
The director says its slow pace responds to the speed and distraction of contemporary media.
- Who
- Portuguese filmmaker João Nicolau directed the film. The story follows artists played by the same actors in two eras.
- What
- A Providência e a Guitarra” explores art and artists’ lives across two periods.
- When
- It is showing at the 50th São Paulo Film Festival. The article was published on October 27, 2026.
- Where
- The film is showing at the São Paulo Film Festival in São Paulo, Brazil.
- Why
- Nicolau uses the film to explore how art guides people through dreams and difficulties.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Nicolau released “A Espada e a Rosa,” about a young man who joins a group of pirates.
Nicolau released “Technoboss,” a musical about a man nearing retirement who must settle matters at his security-systems company.
A Providência e a Guitarra” was showing at the 50th São Paulo Film Festival when Folha published its article on October 27.
- Director
- João Nicolau
- Festival
- 50th São Paulo Film Festival
- Source story
- A short story by Robert Louis Stevenson
- Earlier film
- A Espada e a Rosa,” released in 2010
- Earlier film
- Technoboss,” released in 2019
What people are saying
The cinema is an art that allows us to break through Cartesianism. Life is not always logical, so I don’t see why films need to be.
What stimulated me to work with Stevenson’s story was the pleasure of language. I always enjoy hearing the text and having my actors live it.
In recent years, there has been a great colonization of politics in art. Of course there are brilliant films about political and social themes, but several works are overvalued just for including such themes.