March 11, 2022
XLV — João Retorta
João Retorta is a Lisbon-born, London-based director and photographer.

Below are João’s selects for influential works:

Film
La Haine by Mathieu Kassovitz
1995

A bit cliche, but had to be on the list. No other film had an impact on me like ‘La Haine’ did. It was the first ‘proper’ European film that I saw when I was getting into film school in my late teens. Up until then, I only knew of Hollywood type of films and ’La Haine’ felt more relatable, more familiar in its setting and more ‘palpable’ than all the predominantly American films that I’d seen. Even if just geographically speaking, as I didn’t grew up in the circumstances depicted in the film, but it felt closer to home somehow. Anyway, it opened the doors to European Cinema for me which ended up shaping my entire taste and interests in film.

Film
Code Unknown by Michael Haneke
2000

Probably my favourite film by one of my favourite directors. An intricate study on the intersection of lives in a modern city.

Film
The Worst Person In The World by Joachim Trier
2021

This one is very recent, but very worthy of a spot in the list. I haven’t been this hit by a film in a while. I was already a fan of Joachim Trier’s work, especially the other 2 Oslo films, but ‘The Worst Person In The World’ is something else. So alive. A modern masterpiece in my eyes. Like PTA said: ‘The Worst Person In The World is the best movie in the worl

Film
Tabu by Miguel Gomes
2012

I wanted to include something from back home (Portugal) and ‘Tabu’ is one of my favourites from recent years. An original and inventive film.

Music Video
‘Canal’ Ratking by Erik K Yue
2014

Pure raw energy.

Campaign
‘Brazil Airport’ Nike by John Woo
1998

France 98 was the first World Cup that I watched as a child and the Brazilian team, especially Ronaldo ‘o Fenomeno’, were my heroes that summer (Portugal didn’t qualify) and I still remember watching this on Tv. So fun. Still is.

Campaign
‘Heron Preston’ Calvin Klein by rubberband.
2021

I love everything that rubberband. are doing and I love this campaign. I love how effortless and filled with personality it looks and feels.

PEOPLE IN THIS ARTICLE
Mathieu Kassovitz
Featured
Miguel Gomes
Featured
Erik K Yue
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John Woo
Featured