Let's talk a little about the work of your father. Now that one year has passed, how do you feel?
VSM: Sometimes I still do not feel. But things are what they are. It feels very difficult to explain because frankly I have not done mourning. Got a lot to do and I think this is a bit of a defense mechanism. Although he wanted to do things the truth is that I decided to make them in a very short space of time and in cascade. I think there is a trail here forward, if one can call it. What I think is important, first of all to me, is continuing. I dare not say I have a particular yearning or missing compared to other people at least would be a certain fake. Miss his words, the saying its right. Before, we asked him what do you think, he was silent, my father was never been one to say yes or no, he walked around the things in the background to make us think. All to think. After we discussed the right questions, now there's the assumption. Now I have to ask myself, what would he think? I don't have certainties, not securities. Never stop feeling a great absence.
Do you think the country honored the writer this past year?
VSM: I think so. The fact is that we still reprint his books. Yet other things will come out. A book not just called "rifles, rifles, halberds, halberds," which he wrote 50 pages and it would be an extraordinary publication. He left his work, his thoughts, his concerns and I think that was characterized not only part of the literature in a way, also the civic attitude, behavior and commitment, that's one aspect that we are obliged to continuous.
No one ever talks about the poetry he wrote and which incidentally was use for music.
VSM: Yes. Particularly in the beginning, in the 60 and 70, wrote poetry and gave some to musicians and also wrote for theater and no one speaks relatively about this. Basically, I think, is a smaller part and were less works. And then because you'll have a very intense prose, particularly in the novel, and because of that these two aspects are a little on the side. It is visible in their own reprints, we see many of the books, for example fifteen and poetry and theater we see less. It's true.
About the novels, what is your favorite? And why?
VSM: The essay on blindness. First, because I like the writing in the book, he addressed a fundamental theme of our life remarkably well done and is my favorite book, where I come back, return to read anything, to try to better understand a phenomenon and more recently started rereading the essay on the clarity, the two are at my bedside.
What do you think of the movie from Fernando Meirelles it captured the essence of the book? At the time, was heavily criticized.
VSM: I really enjoyed. I think the criticism was harsh and unfair. Obviously you cannot carry a book with that burden for the film. Cannot see everything happening page by page. Every sentence is clear. What happens? There should have a selection of the most powerful and important. I think he succeeded. There is an image that is particularly strong in the book, which is for example the dog of tears, licking the face of the doctor's wife. Then there is the departure of women to the ward of the bad guys to serve as sex object is brutal in the book, but not aggressive in the film. It is exactly the contrary, the passage, the trip of women is dramatic and the dog of tears ends up fading off. You cannot make two pieces on the same theme, in which one is the movie and the book is another. I do not think in any way, that has been distorted, ill-treatment.
Do you think the film won because it is a Brazilian filmmaker, because we share the same language?
VSM: My father is very dear in Brazil and Fernando Meirelles is a man who has great respect for his work. He tried for many years to convince him to make the movie. And my father believed that there would do it properly. My father cried.
There is the famous image that went through the whole world about the kiss.
VSM: And it's absolutely true. I was there and saw how he became emotional and wept several times, because in fact the film is a delight. Very good. Being two different works and we have to bear this in mind, it wasn't bad. And I think anyone who saw the movie without having read the book, has the appetite to read it. Who did the opposite is not cheated, quite frankly.
About Saramago Foundation, now what are the objectives for the future, past this year? In addition to supporting the work of Portuguese authors.
VSM: We have basically three areas of intervention, which is to support the Portuguese literature, addressing the issues of human rights, environmental protection, and the issue of sustainability that are the main pillars of intervention. This year obviously I could not follow much, because this year was very complex, after his death there was a vortex of events. Answers that it was necessary to give, I do not know if Pilar spent eight days at home, quite frankly. She always somewhere. However, the works of the house of the nozzles are ongoing, of course, that the transition to the building with the mounted structure will allow progress with the proposed objectives. I can say that this year, we had to meet this multitude of things that had to do with his death. It was only that. Even now arrives condolences and we must answer those request, must make an exhaustive survey of what's out. Now, we are preparing the launch of the book that is the Skylight of 1948/49, which was never published. Pilar and my daughter who are the people who are most directly involved in the Foundation had to respond immediately. Then there is the choice that the director, the person who coordinates and structures, this aspect is resolved, since the Pilar, is the president cannot do everything. After the permanent space and the draft consolidated all will advanced at cruise speed. Although from the standpoint of literature there have been several things that were done. If my father were alive, these issues would take place soon. Yet much has been done after his death. Open the house on March 18 in Lanzarote, was a lot of work to do the opening of the library. With Pilar back in Portugal and the final headquarters ready, the projects will go forward without delay.
