Episodes from throughout the entire military history of Portugal are told through flashbacks as a conscripted student of history recounts them to his fellow soldiers while they march through an African colony in revolt during 1973.
2nd Lt. Cabrita / Viriato / King John II of Portugal
Luís Miguel Cintra
Pvt. Salvador / Lusitanian Warrior / Alcácer Warrior
Miguel Guilherme
Pvt. Manuel / Lusitanian Warrior / Diogo (King John's Cousin)
Diogo Dória
Cpl. Brito / Lusitanian Warrior / Alcácer Nobleman
Luís Lucas
Pvt. Pedro / Alcácer Warrior
Carlos Gomes
Soldier / Lusitanian Warrior / Alcácer Warrior
António Sequeira Lopes
King Sebastian of Portugal
Mateus Lorena
Princess Dona Isabel
Lola Forner
King Afonso I of Portugal
Raúl Fraire
Preacher at Funeral / Suicidal Warrior
Ruy de Carvalho
Venus
Teresa Menezes
Tethys
Leonor Silveira
Radio Operator / Vasco da Gama
Paulo Matos
Prince John
Francisco Baião
Baron of Alvito
João Bénard da Costa
King Afonso V of Portugal
Luís Mascarenhas
Priest / Wounded Man
Jorge Rolla
Friar Fernando
José Ramos
Soldier
Ricardo Trêpa
Isle of Love Woman
Catarina Furtado
Isle of Love Woman
Sofia Sá da Bandeira
Soldier
André Gago
Statue at the Monastery of Batalha
Ana David
Narrator
Manoel de Oliveira
Soldier
António Lupi
Soldier
Pepe Ruiz
Soldier
Ángel Gómez
Soldier
Salvador Martos
Soldier
Mateus Cardoso
Soldier
Altino Almeida
Soldier
Jaime Silva