José & Pilar is a charming film that shows what the collaboration between Spain and Portugal is capable of producing. It's a shame joint efforts of this type are not more regularly forthcoming. Although it is Saramago who enjoys international renown, the film cannot be considered a hagiographic and exclusive tribute to the figure of the author. Saramago's Spanish better half, Pilar del Río occupies an equally important part. She is never overshadowed by her husband; an equal amount of that footage that does not feature the two together is very equally devoted to each individually. Thus we discover how irreplaceable Pilar had made herself in José's life as a companion, a translator, a personal secretary organizing his hectic agenda outside of those hours devoted to his literary production, a lifelong admirer and defender of his work. Any Portuguese or Spaniard who adheres to the ideals of Iberism ─ a romantic ambition to live in an Iberian Peninsula where the two countries would merge with Lisbon as its capital would find in this film the materialization of its theories. Spanish and Portuguese are the languages spoken in equal doses throughout the film, the director, Miguel Gonçalves Mendes, is Portuguese, Pedro Almodóvar is one of the various producers; the film takes us back and forth from Lanzarote in Spain where José and Pilar reside, to Lisbon or Azinhaga, Saramago's town of birth. All elements combine to create an atmosphere of total naturalness as far as being Spanish or Portuguese is concerned. Even the union between José and Pilar could be taken for a metaphor of that union between the two countries that republicans and left-wingers and romantics have worked toward. But apart from these minor observations, the core of the film is the life of the author as a creator, his ups and downs with the Portuguese government, which led to his self-exile in Lanzarote, his continuous and exhausting travels to the four corners of the earth to promote his books, attend book fairs, participate in congresses and sign copies bought by his readers and his refusal, considering his age, to simply sit down and take it easy. As he gets older the need to carry on working acquires the urgency of one who knows that death is on his tail. Above all the film is a testimony to the deep love José and Pilar profess for each other. It's not a love that manifests itself in words but rather tender gestures, mutual respect, clasping hands, the loving tone of voice used when addressing each other and at all times a love that transmits itself through the looks they proffer each other. It is truly moving the way the director has captured so much complicity and intimacy. A very surprising element in the film is Saramago's very peculiar sense of humour which Pilar often reacts to with no inferior sense of fun. The public watching this film at the Filmoteca in Madrid had a lot of laughs and as the film's credits started appearing indicating that the film had reached its end, there was a very generous round of applause for an enthralling documentary that kept us glued to our seats for close to two hours. José & Pilar was entered by Portugal in an unsuccessful bid to get it nominated in the Best Foreign Film category of the Oscars. This film is most likely not commercial enough for Hollywood. I would go even further and add that it's too good for Hollywood.

This film, as Variety has mentioned, definitely blurs the line between documentary and fiction -If one does not recognize the protagonists - it could just as well be a fictional film about Love - as it should be.The film is captivating, avoids sentimentality and becomes expansive in your mind days after viewing. Will probably have to see it various times to really capture the organic magic that Goncalves has created in Jose and Pilar.As a side note, it is curious to note that Saramago not only wrote the Elephant's Journey during this film but 2 more stories, Cain and The Notebook after the film ...It is a hopeful piece of film. Just beautiful.

"Jose & Pilar", that was directed by the Portuguese director Miguel Gonçalves Mendes, is a result of a co production from El Deseo( in Spain), to which the so well famous Pedro Almodover is related to, from the O2 ( in Brasil), which is the self writer/director Fernando Meirelles ́ cinematographic company, and from the Jump Cut ( in Portugal ), to which Miguel Gonçalves Mendes is member. This documentary is the most intimidate portrait of the book-writer Jose Saramago and his wife Pilar del Rio ́s life, a story between Jose and Pilar and it deals also with their love to Life.Within this film "Jose and Pilar" It is possible that we embrace these two wonderful people, who have an unique, particular perspective about the world in addition to the whole rush of their daily lives. The film follows all the process of book writing in " the elephant journey", that is from the first idea ( 2006) to its launch and from the first idea to the launching date of another book of his, which was "Cain " what will happen at the end of 2008 only, passing through Saramago ́s illness leaving him very fragile which had also delayed its writing process.In three acts told we will acknowledge all the hard work of the couple through the rides and flights worldwide, in press conferences, meetings and autographs sessions . Nearly Saramago ́s Bibliotheque be inaugurated in Lanzarote, it was also when he began processing his new book "The elephant journey" In the second act, Saramago due to the stress his life had turn to be and overwork, Pilar called his agenda off because his husband mood was getting worse. Having been in the hospital for several months, during this period in which he had almost faced death. In the third act as he was already strengthened and he got on he vigorously start writing the book.For several months certainly we aware his writing until the opening of a biggest exhibition ever done in our Nobel prize of literature . In 2008 his book is real edited in Brasil.During his return home, he had an idea to his new book "Cain".Jose and Pilar is so a transparent documentary that we really get in touch with the real selves of these two people who love each other. Saramago is a very intelligent and good sense of humored man, with such a strong will to change the world. Therefore it is an optimistic documentary. Even though in his most difficulty moments he never looses the hope, his faith not even his sense of humor. Moreover Pilar del Rio is a very strong and determined woman, who always knew what her wishes were, the prime female defender of women rights. Dedicated wife,as she was,she loved him so much that she followed him everywhere. They were in a very closed relationship. They were made for each other. In other words Saramago without Pilar was not Saramago and Pilar was not Pilar without Saramago.Due to more than 240 hours of shooting, Miguel reached at a 2 hours long documentary. The crew went with the couple to some countries such as Finland Brasil including Portugal. Miguel ́s camera is so fantastic that all the public felt inside the screen, standing side by side to Jose and Pilar and as soon as the film ends it seems we had lived with them more than 3 years time.Thus we view them as if they were our two friends. The film is edited in high quality conditions it has experimental moments and besides it has a good sonority band. Unfortunately on the 18th June this year Saramago passed away without having even/ever seen the final version of this documentary.Crítica Cinema 7ª Arte www.cinema7arte.com

It's all very easy to reduce a documentary like this to just that: a documentary. I like to think of it as a window, nay, a door. I'm Portuguese and, beside a theatre play my dad bought for me and made me stand in line to have it signed by Saramago when I was a child, I never managed to enjoy reading his books. Loved the stories, struggled with the novels.So, it was a huge surprise when I discovered this man, playful and witty as dense and morose; when I discovered his wife, thus far a very behind-the-scenes person, very outspoken but seldom seen; and the mere thought of having heaps of footage and manage to edit years of shadowing the couple to a mere two hours, seamlessly stitched together.I couldn't help but feel deeply moved by the episodes the film depicts, the portraits the camera takes all the way through time and the love story between a rather senior Portuguese writer and a rather younger Spanish journalist. In Portugal, we say, 'love knows no age.' It does, actually. However, it knows no time. And that's what 'José And Pilar' tells us.I fell compelled to send a copy to all my friends who, as I, live outside Portugal. It really is that good. Watch it and make sure you take it all in.