Valter Hugo Mãe reveals behind-the-scenes details of the film adaptation of “The Son of a Thousand Men” at Livraria Lello

On 22 November, Livraria Lello will welcome author Valter Hugo Mãe for a new session of the ‘Em Nome Próprio’ (In One's Own Name) series — this time, even more special than usual. Taking advantage of the streaming release of The Son of a Thousand Men (Netflix, 2025), the bookshop will present the trailer for the adaptation of the book and give the author the opportunity to reveal the behind-the-scenes story of this creative process. 

In the week of the premiere of the film The Son of a Thousand Men in cinemas and on Netflix, author Valter Hugo Mãe will star in a unique session at Livraria Lello. The writer has chosen Porto and this century-old bookshop to share with readers, first-hand, the adventures of the latest adaptation of his book The Son of a Thousand Men for the big screen.  

In this book, the author reflects on the concept of family and the relationships between its various members. The narrative revolves around a fisherman named Crisóstomo, who is searching for something he feels is missing in his life: a son. With the arrival of Camilo, his life changes forever.

This session of the ‘Em Nome Próprio’ (In Your Own Name) series will be an intimate conversation in which the artist will share his personal and professional journey. Moderated by Maria Bochicchio, researcher of Contemporary Portuguese Literature and Cultural Programmer at Livraria Lello, the conversation will explore Valter's connection with various art forms.

A multifaceted artist, Valter Hugo Mãe is not just a writer. He is a complete artist, who makes his art dialogue with various artistic expressions and takes the name of Portugal beyond borders.

For Aurora Pedro Pinto, manager of Livraria Lello, it is a great pleasure to welcome Valter to Livraria Lello, as it is like welcoming a member of the family: “Valter is one of our authors, someone whose career we have followed with particular affection. It is therefore with great joy that Livraria Lello is associated with yet another significant moment in his career. Seeing ‘O Filho de Mil Homens’ reach the cinema confirms what we deeply believe: literature gains strength when it finds new languages and thus reaches more people. Each adaptation is an opportunity to inspire new readers. Celebrating this moment at Livraria Lello reaffirms our long-standing mission: to inspire the world to read.

The ‘Em Nome Próprio’ section also pays tribute to the Portuguese author, with musical moments featuring musician Rui David.