Las Voces y el Cine Invisible

The eccentric, controversial figure of João César Monteiro and certainbiographical episodes of mental instability are often reflected in his highlyunconventional films. This article explores the more irrational facet of theauteur and analyses the links between his work and disorders of the mind. Italso addresses questions related to both psychiatry and film, and places thework of the director within the context of the difficulties cinema hasencountered in seeking to represent madness. The article finishes with a studyof Branca de neve (Snow White) a key work in his oeuvre, in an attempt atcharting the development of the themes discussed above, from a perspectivethat steps away from conventional cinema and which is more closely linked tothe experimental nature of contemporary art.