TWO QUARTERS OF TALES

This video was presented at the launch of the book "Dois Quarteirões de Contos", a compilation of 52 short stories by Rolindo Sampaio (1928-2002), which took place on October 14, 2023, at the Instituto Multimédia studio, Porto, Portugal, in front of an audience of about 90 people. The contents of the video comes from the stories original illustrations and also family pictures, exclusively edited on a cell phone running current applications.

The video tells the story of two close friends - Rolindo Sampaio and Fernando da Fonseca - who return to their hometown to go to the theater and meet with family and friends. The video is filled with details and meanings and is divided into 6 acts, which, except for the first and last, are strongly marked by three songs.

Act I - illustrates the journey of the two friends back to their hometown. This act is marked by the space darkness and the noise of a powerful spaceship.

Act II - The two friends arrive in the village of Souto, Penedono, Fernando's hometown, where they meet the characters from Rolindo's stories. There, Miss Simpatia, the main character of Rolindo's first published story, begins to sing "Soon" - a cover of the song "The Gates of Delirium" from the album "Relayer" (1974) by Yes - a song of hope and potential transformation for a better future, where light and peace replace darkness. While Miss Simpatia sings, the characters and the two friends gradually continue their journey.

Act III - Still singing, Miss Simpatia makes a triumphant entrance to the Teatro S. João, Porto, where Rolindo and Fernando, the characters from the stories, family, and many friends await her. On stage, as a backdrop, scenes from Rolindo's stories begin to pass in black and white.

Act IV - With the stage now empty except for a pile of books, but with the scenes from the stories running, Rolindo cannot resist verbalizing one of his writings from many years ago. There, the two friends begin a dialogue about life, friendship, and some of their youthful antics. An instrumental version of the song "The Impossible Dream" - from the musical "Man of La Mancha" (1964), a musical inspired by Miguel de Cervantes' work "Don Quixote" - is heard, revolving around a man who, against all odds, is willing to fight for his dreams, no matter how impossible they may seem, exploring hope, perseverance, and the genius of the human spirit.

Act V - Miss Simpatia returns to the stage, now accompanied by another character, to sing "I Get Up, I Get Down" - from the album "Close to the Edge" (1972) by Yes - a song that speaks of the mundane and transcendence, perseverance, and overcoming. As the song unfolds, the characters and the family join them on stage to sing as well. The last to join the group is the poet Pedro Homem de Mello, a professor and friend of Rolindo; and the last projection on stage is the originals of the poems "Barco Sem Rumo," which appear in the story "Flora," the first story written by Rolindo when he was 17. There, Fernando, afraid of being called to sing, proposes to Rolindo that they leave.

Act VI - Rolindo agrees to leave, so they embark on the spaceship to begin their new journey to other worlds. In the transition between worlds, the reality they were in fades, and the spaceship moves away in a burst of light and geometries.