João Paulo Simões

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João Paulo Simões is a UK-based writer and film director who started his career as an editor. He is also a film critic and edits the film section of a Sheffield-based publication.

His website(s) for contact:

Some of his works are reviewed below.

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On the matter of “Mercy”…

by João Paulo Simões
Director João Paulo Simões defends his 2012 film “Mercy” against unexpected criticism from film critics and feminists alike.

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A Short of Love

by João Paulo Simões

Year of Production: 2014
Genre: Documentary, Short
Duration: 7:00 minutes
Country: Portugal
Cast: Margarida Moreira, Rui Lopes Graça, Paula Pais, Sara Belo, Carlos Quintas, Inês Gonçalves, Marta Lapa, Lucinda Loureiro, Raimundo Cosme, Susana Sá, Margarida Barata, Sandra Celas, Heitor Lourenço
Language: Portuguese (with English subtitles)

João Paulo Simões’ “Uma Curta de Amor” aka “A Short of Love” is a personal meditation on his native Portugal, a country that he mostly gets to observe only from a distance these days. He builds a collage of hope and love using single-word opinions voiced by different people living in Portugal, in order to present a picture that speaks directly to his fellow citizens, their concerns and aspirations.

The film carries the air of a documentary even while the scenes are performed by professional actors. Shot beautifully in interior-settings, and well performed by a cast giving a tantalising glimpse into their life and state of mind, the film is weighted with anticipation, and a palpable sense of longing. Aided by Nelson de Quinhones’ comforting score, Simões has managed to script his very own ode to Portugal, in a cinematic way.

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Lust: The Power Supreme

by João Paulo Simões

Year of Production: 2012
Genre: Short, Music Video
Duration: 20 minutes
Country: United Kingdom
Cast: Alexandre Guedes de Sousa, Sara Belo, Sandra Rosado, Aysegul Thornett, Marta Inocentes
Language: English (soundtrack only)

João Paulo Simões’ “Lust: The Power Supreme” is a montage of vignettes concerning fleeting urban relationships that are primarily borne through physical impulse, and the difficulty in transforming these into something substantial. The music video is shot as a short film using seven episodes, and bases its theme around the track by the same name from the album “Saltwater Nomad” by ITHAKA. The film uses cityscapes and haunting characters to portray a dreamlike sequence of relationships beginning and ending in a surreal manner – all based around the concept of lust.

At twenty minutes, the director had taken the challenge to present the entire length of film using the sound track alone, letting the lyrics convey all that’s required. The film however focuses on far too many characters and events – while it works effectively at intervals, especially during defining moments of each episode, intermediary scenes could have ideally been fleshed out using supporting narrative. But for what it is meant to be, it sticks to its task nobly. The imagery is nevertheless stunning and beautifully presented, and it is some of these images that’ll linger in your mind long after.

 

 

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