New short film by Eloy Domínguez Serén reflects on clandestine life during the dictatorship

Não Falarei (I Will Not Speak), the new short film by Galician director Eloy Domínguez Serén, delves into the life of a young couple and their baby isolated in a basement in Miragaia in 1951. The film, supported by Filmaporto’s Pascaud Grant, seeks to explore the ‘poetics of claustrophobia’ of the clandestine houses of the Portuguese Communist Party, where militants sacrificed their own freedom in the name of the anti-fascist struggle.

For Domínguez Serén, the choice of Porto had a historical purpose. ‘The city served as a coordination centre for the entire north of the country and as a base for the region’s trade union structure,’ he explains, referring to the intense clandestine activity that took place there and the participation of historical figures such as Américo Leal and Sofia Ferreira. Filming took place in locations such as Rua de Miragaia, Túnel da Alfândega and Cais Novo, chosen for their symbolic significance, evoking both the need for concealment and the constant danger of police repression. “The tunnel, for example, refers to the action of “diving”, a term used by the PCP to go underground, but also to emerging, coming out of the shadows to face the “long night of stone” of the dictatorship. Miragaia, on the other hand, is also associated with “diving”, as it is a neighbourhood historically marked by flooding. In addition, its narrow streets and arcades contain something of a hiding place, concealment and immersion that dialogues with the theme of our film,” adds the director.

The narrative focuses on the small gestures of clandestine daily life: strict adherence to conspiratorial rules, social isolation, and document forgery. For Domínguez Serén, these meticulous acts of extreme personal sacrifice are ‘admirable and moving’ and reveal the discipline and collective commitment required of those who risked their lives in the name of freedom.

Almost all the action takes place in a single space, reinforcing the claustrophobic atmosphere. “In all the interviews, the clandestines mentioned that they never left home unless it was absolutely imperative. Based on this permanence in a single enclosed space, our approach aims to explore the relationship with space and develop a “poetics of claustrophobia”, evoking the feeling of constant threat and the emotional transformation of the characters through subtle changes in light or scenery,” explains Domínguez Serén.

With this film, the director hopes that audiences will understand the sacrifice made by these activists and realise the importance of continuing to defend the rights and freedoms that have been won. ‘These people literally risked their lives for what we now take for granted,’ he concludes.

Starring Rita Cabaço, Mário Coelho and Diana Sá, Não Falarei is being produced by André Guiomar, Luís Costa, Miguel da Santa and Tiago Carvalho (Olhar de Ulisses).