Scorched Earth

In 1810, Lord Wellington and Marechal Masséna prepare their respective armies for the famous battle of Bussaco, in central Portugal. Joaquim, Ana and their two children are a family that, like so many others at the time, will do everything to survive this third French invasion of Portugal.

A dramatization that portrays the history of the days before, during and after the great battle of Bussaco, through the eyes of a Portuguese family that tries to survive the third Napoleonic invasion in Portugal.

This film was entirely shot on location, during the Covid 19 pandemic, in the exact places where the historical events depicted took place.

  • Paulo Fajardo
    Director
    Summer Dream, Berlenga - A Ilha do Farol, Outono, Breaking Waves, A Snake in The Yard, Bird in a Cage
  • João Tarrafa
    Writer
  • Joana Sarabando
    Writer
  • Marta Pires
    Writer
  • Paulo César Fajardo
    Writer
  • Marta Pires
    Producer
  • Paulo César Fajardo
    Producer
  • Filipa Almeida
    Producer
  • Rosa Santos Gonçalves
    Producer
  • João Tarrafa
    Key Cast
    "Joaquim"
  • Marta Pires
    Key Cast
    "Ana"
  • Joana Sarabando
    Key Cast
    "Teresa"
  • Rúben Dias
    Key Cast
    "Masséna"
  • Nelson Luís
    Key Cast
    "Wellington"
  • Dinis Binnema
    Key Cast
    "Moleiro"
  • Diogo Binnema
    Key Cast
    "Robert"
  • Gustavo Caldeira
    Key Cast
    "Jovem Frade"
  • Pedro Gama
    Key Cast
    "Frei José de São Silvestre"
  • Pedro Camarinho
    Key Cast
    "Marechal Pamplona"
  • Joka
    Key Cast
    "Jean Colet"
  • Iúri dos Santos
    Key Cast
    "Pedro"
  • Afonso Semedo
    Key Cast
    "Filho"
  • Beatriz Guedes
    Key Cast
    "Filha"
  • Pedro Semedo
    Key Cast
    "General Craufurd"
  • Manuel Filipe
    Key Cast
    "Frade Ancião"
  • Nuno Canilho
    Key Cast
    "Sr. Lebre"
  • Filipa Almeida
    Key Cast
    "Sr.ª Lebre"
  • Inês Oliveira
    Key Cast
    "Henriette LeBreton"
  • Jorge Sousa
    Key Cast
    "Jorge"
  • Carlos Geria
    Key Cast
    "Miliciano"
  • José Machado Lopes
    Key Cast
    "Pastor"
  • António Ramos
    Key Cast
    "Oficial Português #1"
  • Ana Soares
    Key Cast
    "Mulher do povo #1"
  • Ana Mannarino
    Key Cast
    "Mulher do povo #2"
  • Elisabete Sousa
    Key Cast
    "Mulher do povo #3"
  • Nuno Marques
    Key Cast
    "Padre"
  • Justino Melo
    Key Cast
    "Padre Casamento"
  • Francisco Robalo
    Key Cast
    "Rapaz"
  • Cláudio Dinis Monteiro
    Key Cast
    "Porta Estandarte"
  • Vasco Belchior
    Key Cast
    "Capitão Francês"
  • Gil Ferreira
    Key Cast
    "General Hill"
  • Sérgio Carvalho
    Key Cast
    "Aguadeiro"
  • Diogo Marques
    Key Cast
    "Soldado Francês Ferido"
  • João Rodrigues
    Key Cast
    "Soldado Francês #1"
  • Sérgio Bento
    Key Cast
    "Soldado Francês #2"
  • Bruno Marques
    Key Cast
    "Soldado Francês #3"
  • Diogo Manaia
    Key Cast
    "Soldado Português #1"
  • Lourenço Ferreira
    Key Cast
    "Soldado Português #2"
  • Vítor Monteiro
    Key Cast
    "Soldado Português #3"
  • Nuno "Montanha" Gonçalves
    Key Cast
    "Oficial Inglês #1"
  • João Pedro Duarte
    Key Cast
    "Soldado de Infantaria"
  • Elías Gómez Rodríguez
    Key Cast
    "Atirador Inglês"
  • Rui Baptista
    Key Cast
    "Frade Aguadeiro"
  • Paulo Nabais
    Key Cast
    "Mordomo"
  • Mariana Neves
    Key Cast
    "Criada"
  • Graça Manaia
    Key Cast
    "Mulher a Rezar"
  • Rosa Santos Gonçalves
    Key Cast
    "Voz de Mulher a Rezar"
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Terra Queimada
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 22 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    April 9, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    12,000 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Portugal
  • Country of Filming:
    Portugal
  • Language:
    Portuguese
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Cineteatro Municipal Messias
    Mealhada
    Portugal
    April 9, 2022
    Premiere
  • Museu Militar do Buçaco
    Mealhada
    Portugal
    April 18, 2022
    Official Selection
  • Dia do Município da Mealhada
    Mealhada
    Portugal
    May 26, 2022
    Official Selection
  • Camões TV
    Ontario
    Canada
    June 12, 2022
    Cable TV Premiere
  • 214º Aniversário da Batalha do Vimeiro
    Lourinhã
    Portugal
    August 20, 2022
    Official Selection
  • 18º Cerco de Almeida - Recriação Histórica
    Almeida
    Portugal
    August 28, 2022
    Official Selection
  • Festival de Cinema de Alter do Chão
    Santarém
    Brazil
    November 16, 2022
    Official Selection
  • Bragacine - International Independent Film Festival
    Braga
    Portugal
    December 13, 2022
    Winner Best Producer
  • Grupo Cénico de Santa Cristina
    Mealhada
    Portugal
    February 25, 2023
    Guest Film
  • Finisterra Brazil Film Art & Tourism Festival
    Bahia
    Brazil
    June 5, 2023
    2nd Prize Places in History
  • DENSO - I Mostra Cultural e Artística de Coimbra
    Coimbra
    Portugal
    March 31, 2023
    Guest Film
  • 4ª Clássica - Anadia
    Anadia
    Portugal
    September 27, 2023
    Guest Film
  • Cineclub Bairrada & GIR apresentam: Terra Queimada
    Mealhada
    Portugal
    September 30, 2023
    Guest Film
  • Best International Film Festival
    Bucharest
    Romania
    December 2, 2023
    Best Feature Film
Director Biography - Paulo Fajardo

Paulo César Fajardo was born in Figueira da Foz, in1980, Portugal. Developed various documentary projects as an independent producer and made his directorial debut in 2000 with the short film “Outono/Fall”. Worked as a freelancer camera operator, editor and director for several TV shows for national and international networks. Finished in 2011 his first feature film “Summer Dream” and in 2012 created the web tv BairradaTV. He now works as a freelancer news camera operator and editor for the SIC and SIC Notícias tv news channels.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The film "Scorched Earth" (Terra Queimada) aims to broaden the stage for the international dissemination of the historical events that took place at the Battle of Bussaco in Portugal, in 1810, where the armies of Portugal, England and France were in opposition.
This author's work serves as an ambassador for the Bairrada Region in Portugal, promoting culture, local history and military tourism to tourists who visit our territory.

Due to its historical and pedagogical value, this film was produced for an audience over the age of 12, and for a wider audience, both national and international, who are interested in learning more about Napoleon's politics and the French invasions across Europe during the 19th century. This film was also produced with the aim of being shown on television in Canada, for the entire Portuguese and Canadian community, through the cable channel Camões TV, co-producer of the film, reaching an audience of around 5 million viewers.

This is the director's cut version of the movie "Scorched Earth" (Terra Queimada). A co-production of the theater company Caixa de Palco with the support of the Municipality of Mealhada, the MDC Media Group, Camões TV and the NOC Teatro association. This film was also co-financed by Centro 2020, Portugal 2020 and the European Union - European Regional Development Fund.