Another triumph for Master Manoel de Oliveira!

"The New York Times" had a long article on Sunday, March 9, 2008,  entitled "Centenarian Director's very long view" by Dennis Lim, praising the  "world's oldest active filmmaker."  The same article was also published on the "Brooklyn Daily Eagle". See  this website  for it.

But we got also a congratulatory message from New York, which came from the heart!  It is with permission from Mr. John  Brito's,  that  we shared with the viewers of our website  his sincere message after seeing the movie at the "Brooklyn Academy of Music" with his family,  on Friday,  March 7th, 2008.

We are  most grateful to Mr. John Brito and we are looking forward to meet him personally this coming summer when he  and his family will come to visit the Dighton Rock Museum. 

Here is Mr. Brito's message:

                         Mr. and Mrs John Brito from New York

Dear Dr. Luciano,

Muitos parabéns! We went to see your movie, "Christopher Columbus, The Enigma", based on your book and yours and your wife's life,  and enjoyed it very much. My wife, Linda,  and I thought it was very well made.

We both enjoyed the sensitivity that Mestre Manoel Oliveira placed on your marriage/honeymoon in Portugal and your visiting the different places through out Portugal and Porto Santo, Madeira, to "prove" that Colon was Portuguese. It was interesting when on your honeymoon you visited Cuba and asked the woman about Colon and she had no idea. Or when you visited Sagres and your disappointment at the condition of the school of Navigators ( D. Infante Henrique ).

It was also very touching when in 2007 you both returned to N.Y. and your wife asks you if you loved her. Very nicely done.

We loved the movie from beginning to end. You and Mrs. Silva should both be very proud of yourselves. Bravo!

The  actors who played you both at a younger age and at your present time were all fantastic.

The theater was packed, no empty seats and Mestre Manoel Oliveira got a standing ovation at the end of the movie. That standing ovation was symbolically as much for him as it was for you and your wife. And the full-packed theater shows people are very much interested in your historical research and conclusions. You are a "National/International" treasure to many of us. Thank you.

Will the movie ever be available in video? If so, we will treasure it.

God bless you both and your whole family.

Seu amigo e compadre,

John Brito

New York