| O Contador de Histórias | |
| Director: | Luiz Villaça |
| Producer: | Francisco Ramalho, Jr. Denise Fraga |
| Starring: | Maria de Medeiros Daniel Henrique Paulinho Mendes |
| Music: | André Abujamra Márcio Nigro |
| Cinematography: | Lauro Escorel |
| Editing: | Umberto Martins Maria Altberg |
| Distributor: | Warner Bros. (Brazil) |
| Studio: | Ramalho Filmes |
| Runtime: | 110 minutes |
| Language: | Portuguese |
O Contador de Histórias (The Story of Me or (Australian title) The Storyteller) is a 2009 Brazilian film directed by Luiz Villaça, based on the life of Roberto Carlos Ramos, a Brazilian teacher and storyteller brought up in a state educational institution for poor children.
Roberto, an imaginative 6-year-old and the youngest of ten brothers in an impoverished family, is consigned by his mother to a newly founded government institution. The goal of educating poor youngsters to university level is not matched by the facilities, and the unhappy Roberto repeatedly tries to escape and is brought back. A French social-work researcher, Margherit, makes the boy, who is now aged 13 and on the way to a life of crime, a subject of study. After many tribulations, she gets closer to him and shows how love and care can make a difference. She teaches him to read and introduces works of Jules Verne which refire his imagination and launch him on a successful career of teaching and public oratory.
In 2009, adjudged Best Film (Audience Choice), Critics’ Special Prize and Best Actor at Paulínia Festival; Lente de Cristal Award at Cine Fest Brasil, Madrid. Also screened at Vienna International Children's Festival, 2010 Brazilian Film Festival of London; Brazilian Film Festival in Miami.[1]