This film runs around the love story between José Duarte (Alberto Ribeiro), a law student from University of Coimbra, and Maria de Lisboa (Amalia Rodrigues), a poor but honest and passionate girl. Directed by Armando Miranda, this film has screenplay by Alberto Barbosa, José Luis Gallardo and Gallardo.
Coimbra is the city where Portugal has its oldest university (one of the oldest in world) and, therefore, is full of traditions linked to the students. This film seeks to portray some of them, like the great feast that students take at the end of the school year (called "Queima das Fitas"), or the traditional black clothes that, then as now, are one of the major symbols of college students. Also appears in this film the "Songs of Coimbra", a musical genre that was developed by students and is similar to fado to the point of also being called "Fado de Coimbra". Therefore, and although the plot are interesting, this film is especially cherished by students or former students who lived the Portuguese academic traditions, or for those who appreciate the Songs of Coimbra.
Coimbra is the city where Portugal has its oldest university (one of the oldest in world) and, therefore, is full of traditions linked to the students. This film seeks to portray some of them, like the great feast that students take at the end of the school year (called "Queima das Fitas"), or the traditional black clothes that, then as now, are one of the major symbols of college students. Also appears in this film the "Songs of Coimbra", a musical genre that was developed by students and is similar to fado to the point of also being called "Fado de Coimbra". Therefore, and although the plot are interesting, this film is especially cherished by students or former students who lived the Portuguese academic traditions, or for those who appreciate the Songs of Coimbra.
