The late João César Monteiro both directed and starred in this portrait of a solitary widower. Through a series of striking tableaux, Monteiro follows his protagonist through a daily routine that keeps him markedly distanced from his fellow residents in a picturesque section of Lisbon. His only meaningful communication begins when he looks to hire a woman to clean and maintain his extensive collection of books. The isolation is disrupted further when his son is released from prison and impels the father to unexpected action. Paying homage to such legendary film comedians as Charlie Chaplin and W. C. Fields, Monteiro balances the gravity of the material with an often salacious sense of humor.