"An amazingly accomplished first feature...reported to have taken eight years to complete. A print was rushed at the last moment to the 1987 Locarno Festival, where it took first prize. The Jester is structured around the oblique intersection of two narratives-one historic and theatrical, the other contemporary and real-life...Francisco (Fernando Heitor) is directing a theatrical production of The Jester, a l9th century novel by Alexandre Herculano about the foundation of the Portuguese monarchy in the 12th century. Francisco's relationship to his actress girlfriend, Rita Portugal (Paula Guedes), has been strained by his involvement with João (Luis Lucas), his childhood friend. It is 1978, just after the defeat of the Portugese left, and João, formerly a member of a radical group, is trying to sell a cache of weapons, intending to use the money to finance Francisco's production. The plan goes awry, and João is killed. Most of the film is told in flashback, as Francisco and Rita attempt to piece together the events leading to his death. The triangle formed by João, Francisco, and Rita is paralleled in Francisco's staging of (the play)...Matching baroque camera moves with jagged editing, The Jester manages to both sweep you along and keep you slightly off-balance." Amy Taubin, Village Voice