This is a very interesting movie about an historical moment in the Portuguese history of the twentieth century. There is little insight over what happened before, you understand General Humberto Delgado was an opponent to the regime and wanted to make a revolution; but the 1958 elections go almost unreferred, or the past of the General.
The director is credited to have said this was "a movie about a lie". He wasn't interested in the personality of the General, but rather to depict how the judicial process occurred, the flaws, the links, and what nots.
I believe this is a movie to watch for all those who know Portuguese history and are already comfortable in the subject; for all others, it might be slightly confusing, and the overall importance of the moment, and even some unexplained events in the movie might pass you by.
The choice of John Ventimiglia for the role of General Delgado, however, was not a happy one. He is a fine actor, but his voice had to be dubbed as he is not Portuguese, and that removed great intensity that might have been present otherwise.
I watched the movie in a special event that was followed by a debate and I learnt a lot afterwards about who was this General, how he got there, other important people of the moment, and all that.
If you know the story, watch. You'll certainly learn a lot!
