DERNIERS ARISTOCRATES (LES)

“La Pega” is the spectacular confrontation between a man and a wild bull. During this traditional Portuguese bullfight the “forcado” defends his honor. His attitude reveals great courage, self-respect and proud. This is a dangerous game, it is a duel with death present in the horns of the bull. The real bullfighter communicates the feeling of immortality. Arrogant, apparently without fear, he challenges the beast. When the bull, weighting over six hundred kilos, makes a dead set at him, he keeps motionless and waits. The man is tossed by the raging bull. They form one single body. At this moment, the engagement has reached his artistic and esthetic climax. Next to the spectacular and fascinating images of the duel, we filmed the rituals (clothing, mental preparation) before the fight. We throw light on the historical background of “La Pega”, a tradition that dates back for many centuries. In a series of interviews with Portuguese bullfighters, who are called “The last aristocrats”, we try to see through the symbolic meaning of the fight and the personal motivation of the bullfighter.