Overview

What was the Estado Novo's (portuguese dictatorship from 1926 till 1974) relationship with homosexuals? This is the central question of Walking Shadows/Sombras Andantes, a film by André Murraças based on his play of the same name. Blending documentary, cinema, theater, animation, and archival footage, the film explores the lives of homosexuals persecuted under the Estado Novo regime. From early arrests to increased policing and acts of resistance, it uncovers hidden or double lives—ranging from everyday workers to public figures and activists. Alongside known names like António Botto, Valentim de Barros, and Júlio Fogaça, anonymous stories and police records shed light on a silenced history and the mechanisms of repression.