A lot can be said about Portuguese director João César Monteiro and his films which are different from one another.One great thing about his works is that they have the ability to impress viewers by making them appreciate the value of a mature story which develops slowly.This is the reason why a lot of patience is required to truly assess the greatness of his films.João César Monteiro is one of the few directors whose films are not for pop corn munching audiences who excel in inane bigotry.As far as this film is concerned one should not be misled by what is written as synopsis."À Flor do Mar" is something more than few words which have been written as a condensed statement.The truth is that there is hardly any story in the film.What we really see are numerous moods and mood swings of various characters which have no bearing on this film's beginning,middle or end.By showing an isolated house,a beach and a seashore Joao Cesar Monteiro has revealed some of the most precious hidden talents of Portuguese actress Teresa Villaverde.