A Fábrica de nada

Portugal

Synopsis

One night, a group of workers realizes that their administration has organized the stealing of machines from their factory. They soon understand that this is the first signal of a massive layoff. Most of them refuse to co-operate during the individual negotiations and they start to occupy their workplace. So when the administration vanishes to their great surprise, they’re left with a half-empty factory ...

As the world around them collapses, new desires start to emerge.

Director's Statement

n Portugal, and in Europe, the last few years have caused a brutal re-definition of the way in which we look at the world. A lack of prospects and valid discourses about the present has often made us feel ineffectual.

THE NOTHING FACTORY stems from there.

The closing of an elevator factory (one of many that close every month in the industrial outskirts of Lisbon) works as a microcosm and a parable for dramatically exploring the textures and consequences of the feeling of impotence that most people felt during that time.

Under the shadow of bankruptcy, the characters try to stay afloat and look for ways to re-shape their lives. Driven by a sense of urgency and some kind of life instinct that remains, as they witness the collapse of their jobs and the institutions they believed in, they are forced to embark, with reluctance and fear, in an unforeseen experience, a collective adventure.

Director's Biography

Pedro Pinho studied Cinema in Lisbon and Paris.

In 2008 he co-directed with Frederico Lobo the documentary feature BAB SEBTA (Prize Marseille Esperance
award at FID MARSEILLE’08, Best Film at DOCLISBOA and FORUM DOC BH (Brazil). In 2009, with five other
filmmakers, he founded the company TERRATREME, which in recent years has been playing a central role in
producing and promoting new Portuguese directors.

THE END OF THE WORLD (2013) was his first medium-length fiction film and it was screened at the 63rd Berlinale, IndieLisboa, and Festival do Rio (It was nominated for the Portuguese Golden Globe Awards for Best Film and Best Photography at Caminhos Cinema Português‘14).

In 2014 he co-directed with Luisa Homem the documentary AS CIDADES E AS TROCAS, shown at FID Marseille, DocLisboa and The Art of the Real (NY).

Currently he works as a director, writer and producer.
THE NOTHING FACTORY is his first fiction feature.

Filmography:
2014 AS CIDADES E AS TROCAS, doc.
2013 THE END OF THE WORLD
2008 BAB SEBTA, doc.
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Cast & Crew

Directed by: Pedro Pinho

Written by: Pedro Pinho, João Matos, Luísa Homem, Leonor Noivo, Thiago Hespanha

Produced by: João Matos

Cinematography: Vasco Viana

Editing: Claudia Oliveira, Jose Edgar Feldman, Luísa Homem

Production Design: João Gusmão

Costume Design: Vera Midões

Original Score: José Smith, Pedro Rodrigues

Sound Design: Tiago Raposinho, Carlos Abreu

Cast: Daniele Incalcaterra (Daniele), José Smith (Smith), Carla Galvão (Carla), Njamy Sebastião (Jaime)

Nominations and Awards

  • Feature Film Selection 2017