The 6 best films for learning Portuguese

You know Portuguese, but you’d like a more authentic accent? To improve your pronunciation, there’s nothing like watching films in VO! Here’s our selection of the best films for learning the language of Fernando Pessoa.

Studying is more fun when you’re doing something you enjoy! Watching films in VO is an excellent way to make progress in learning Portuguese.

This will allow you to discover new words and expressions, and to learn a little more about the local culture. It also lets you hear the actors speak, so you can get used to the intonation, pronunciation and accentuation of the language.

Whatever the case, watching films in the language of Fernando Pessoa is one of the best ways to make progress and enrich your vocabulary! Here’s our selection of the best films for learning Portuguese!

O Rei Leão

The Lion King, O Rei Leão in Portuguese, is the 43rd animated feature from Disney Studios. It tells the story of Simba, son of the King of the Animals. His jealous uncle covets his brother’s throne. He tricks Simba into believing that he is the instigator of the plot that leads to the king’s death. Simba flees the horde and befriends a meerkat and a warthog. As an adult, he eventually takes his place to save the animal kingdom.

It’s worth noting that cartoons in Portugal are all in Portuguese, so that children can immerse themselves in their country’s language from an early age. This is not the case with foreign films, which are systematically presented in VO.

Watching The Lion King, or any other Disney movie, in Portuguese will give you your first taste of the language, with vocabulary designed for children. It’s easy to understand, with no difficulty in grammar or verb conjugation, making it an ideal film for learning Portuguese.

A Herdade

This film tells the saga of a family owning one of the largest estates in Southern Europe, on the banks of the Tagus River, from the 1940s to the present day. We follow the dynasty’s difficulties in preserving its heritage, between the changes brought about by the modernization of society and the revolution of April 25, 1974, which saw the collapse of the monarchy in Portugal.

A Herdade takes you into the intimacy of the Portuguese of the last century. If you have Portuguese friends, you’re bound to find similarities between their personal stories and that of this family. Telling them about this film promises long, lively discussions and the evocation of memories around the dinner table.

An ideal film for learning Portuguese and learning a little more about the country’s history!

Pedro e Inês

The film is based on the legendary love story between Ines de Castro and the future King Pedro I of Portugal. The latter was promised to Constança Manuel, but fell madly in love with Inès, who had come to join her cousin’s court.

She became his mistress, despite her father’s disapproval. In the end, he had Inès beheaded in 1355. After becoming king a few years later, Pedro had Inès’ remains transported to the Alcobaça monastery, in a magnificent recumbent tomb that can still be admired today. Pedro’s tomb is located directly opposite his, at the other end of the monument.

The film Pedro e Inès tells the story of Pedro, a man committed to a psychiatric hospital because he was caught traveling with the corpse of his wife Inès in his car.

We discover that he believes he remembers the life of Pedro and Inès in the Middle Ages, that he calls himself Pedro Bravo today, and that he imagines his future as Pedro Rey. The three facets of his life alternate in his mind, compelling us to follow his ramblings. A fascinating film to discover without further ado!

11 times Fátima

The film begins in Vinhais, a small town in northeastern Portugal. We meet a group of 11 women who are walking to Fatima, the country’s most important place of worship, over 400 km from their village.

They will go through trials that will make them stronger and reveal their true personalities and deepest motivations. We follow them through their moments of doubt and extreme fatigue, right up to their arrival nine days later.

A lovely film that will help you learn vocabulary for everyday conversation – ideal for learning Portuguese!

The city of God

This film, which was banned from cinemas under the age of 16 when it was released in 2003, plunges you into the heart of Rio de Janeiro’s most dangerous neighborhood, the Cidade de Deus (City of God). Buscapé, the main character and narrator, is a sensitive young boy who has grown up in a place where violence reigns.

He decided to become a photographer and not give in to fate. He describes the evolution of his home from the late 1960s to the mid-1970s. We discover the rise of gangs, arms and drug trafficking, and the decline of his childhood friends who just can’t get out.

This film is aimed at people who want to learn Brazilian Portuguese! If you’ve never seen this masterpiece, we recommend you do so without delay!

Central Brazil

Central do Brasil was released to critical acclaim in 1998. It follows the lives of two characters who seem to have nothing in common. Dora is a retired schoolteacher who, to make ends meet, writes letters for illiterate clients.

One day, one of her customers is killed by a bus, leaving a nine-year-old boy, Josué, behind. Dora decides to take him in and help him find his father, whom he has never seen. Together, they embark on a journey of initiation to the Nordeste region. A deeply moving film, also for those wishing to learn Brazilian Portuguese!

We hope this selection of films for learning Portuguese will help you make progress in learning the language of Fernando Pessoa. Let us know in the comments which film you liked best!