Signs of Fire

(SIGNES DE FEU) ((PORTUGESE-SPANISH))

An MGN (Lisbon)/Igeldo Films (Madrid) production. Produced by Tino Navarro. Directed by Luis Filipe Rocha. Screenplay, Rocha, Izaias Almada, based on the novel "Sinais de Fogo" by Jorge de Sena. Camera (color), Edgar Moura; editor, Antonio Perez Reina; music, Enrique Macias; sound, Carlos Alberto Lopes; special effects, Antonio Pires; assistant director, Miguel Cardoso. Reviewed at World Film Festival, Montreal, Aug. 25, 1995. Running time: 100 MIN.

Jorge ... Diogo Infante
Mercedes ... Ruth Gabriel
Ramos ... Marcantonio del Canto
Rodriguez ... Jose Ariosa
Uncle ... Henrique Viana

Many films have dealt with the Spanish Civil War (1936-39), but few in memory have tackled events in neighboring Portugal during this traumatic period. With "Signs of Fire," Luis Filipe Rocha, one of Portugal's most interesting filmmakers (his "Cerromaior" played at some fests a few years ago) examines how his country was affected by Gen. Franco's rebellion against the Spanish government by means of an intimate, compelling, personal story. Pic stands as a good bet for the fest circuit.

It's the summer of 1936, and a small group of young people are holidaying by the sea, including the beautiful Mercedes, her hotheaded brother, Ramos, and Jorge, who becomes infatuated with Mercedes. As the bad news from across the border filters through to these holiday-makers, tensions mount as pro- and anti-Franco positions are taken, and Ramos, together with some of his friends, decides to enter Spain by sea and fight on the side of the anti-fascists. Meanwhile, Portugal's right-wing dictator, Salazar, seizes the opportunity to tighten his own control.

It's an intriguing, at times rather oblique, drama, handsomely mounted and briskly paced, with a fine performance from Ruth Gabriel as the desirable young woman torn between two lovers and two ideologies.

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