In Mike Hoolboom’s work the relationship between images and text (the eternal voice-over) always of a poetic order. In addition, images are used freely – the montage follows the logic of association of ideas, combining material captured by the filmmaker and taken from many other sources. The freedom of these films makes them special because they subvert the narrative logic of the cinema, concentrating on exploring images and concepts that come from the movement generated by the montage itself. In the case of “We Make Couples,” the images and text are inspired by the monogamous model of western societies and linked to capitalism, proposing a revolt or some resistance from “the couple.” However, as might be expected, this relationship of resistance also encompasses the cinema, or rather “amateur cinema” produced by ordinary people outside the industrial machine. For Hoolboom, cinema is life. In this blend of register, the film even includes protesters from the Occupy Movement and Pussy Riot. The Canadian director is one of the more frequent guests at Vila do Conde and was the focus of a 2003 retrospective. Hoolboom is also the author of the text for the short film “Beacon,” which filmmakers Christoph Girardet and Matthias Müller created to celebrate the Festival’s 10th anniversary and has contributed a chapter on festivals, the cinema and life in a book that marks the 20th anniversary of Curtas. (DR)