Malvedos Hosts Filming for La Cage Dorée

Ruben Alves, Director of La Cage Dorée, with William Graham, one of the founders of Graham’s

Graham’s Quinta dos Malvedos has hosted a lot of guests in the past 120 years or so, mostly wine trade professionals, friends of the family, and the occasional head of state.  Some months ago Franco-Portuguese film director Ruben Alves sent a reconnaissance team to visit all the Symington quintas as well as other properties in the Douro and the director fell in love with Quinta dos Malvedos, as most people do.  As a result, last week Ruben returned with cast and crew to shoot scenes for a new movie.

Jackie Thurn-Valsassina, Graham’s Visits and Events Manager, who organises all visits to our quintas, was there during the shooting, and writes for the blog:

Last week Graham’s Quinta dos Malvedos was the stage for the last days of the making of the French film La Cage Dorée.  Franco-Portuguese film director Ruben Alves chose Quinta dos Malvedos as part of his first feature film due to its spectacular location in the Douro valley.

Filming began in Paris two months prior with principal Portuguese actors, Joaquim de Almeida and Rita Blanco, playing a Portuguese couple who emigrated to Paris at a very young age.  After 30 years of living in France and having two children, they decide to return to Portugal earlier than planned, due to the inheritance of a house in the Douro.

The story of the film rolls out as a bittersweet comedy with the couple encountering many difficulties:  a group of friends who try to restrain them from returning home, family problems and adapting to life in Portugal after many years living away.

Well known Portuguese comedian actress Maria Vieira plays the emigrant housekeeper for a French family and leading Franco-Portuguese actress Barbara Cabrita and French actress Chantal Lauby also play prominent roles.

The French feature film will be released in cinemas in the Spring of 2013.

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