17/09/2014 - Having taken almost 14,000 admissions over four days in theatres, the movie by João Botelho is already the third most-seen national title this year

Actors Pedro Inês and Graciano Dias in a scene from Os Maias

Os Maias [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], by director João Botelho, has already proven to be a big hit at the Portuguese box office. According to information provided by producer Ar de Filmes, the film was seen by 13,915 people over the first four days of screening, making it the Portuguese feature film with the third biggest audience this year. Still ahead of Os Maias (for now) are Sei Lá [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Joaquim Leitão and Ruas Rivais by Márcio Loureiro, which have taken 61,730 and 33,990 admissions, respectively (data courtesy of the ICA, taking into account ticket sales up to 31 August).

Released last week across 22 screens in 12 cities, Os Maias will shortly come to four more movie theatres. Just as he did with his previous feature, O Filme do Desassossego, Botelho will set off on a countrywide tour with his film in November, presenting it on a non-traditional circuit that will allow him to show the work to schoolchildren and audiences that live away from urban centres.

Os Maias is also expected to be presented in Brazil, the co-producing country, as well as to be adapted into a TV series, which will air on the public RTP channel in 2015.

Os Maias is an adaptation of the work by Eça de Queiróz (read the review), rounded off with pictorial touches. Oddly enough, in 2005, another of the realist author’s novels provided the inspiration behind a big-screen adaptation, The Crime of Father Amaro [+see also:
trailer
film profile], by Carlos Coelho da Silva, which became the most-seen Portuguese film in history, taking over 380,000 admissions.

(Translated from Spanish)