Why The 2025 Oscars Mean So Much to Brazil

Ever since Fernanda Torres’ nomination and win for best actress at the Golden Globes in I am Still Here, Brazil is in celebration. After the Academy announced three nods for the movie, Brazilians are as united as ever celebrating and praising not only the movie’s recognition but also the country’s potential in art and culture. I am Still Here tells the story of Eunice Paiva (Fernanda Torres), a mother of five and the wife of Rubens Paiva (Selton Mello), a former left-wing congressman who was taken by the military dictatorship in Brazil in 1971, never to be seen again. Directed by Brazilian filmmaker Walter Salles, the movie has sold over 4 million tickets and has become the third movie – first in twenty-two years – to surpass the $4 million mark domestically. With a $1.5 million budget, I am Still Here has grossed over $27,000,000.00 worldwide according to Box Office Mojo. Ever since its premiere, Brazilians have used social media for massive support campaigns. The moving performance of Torres as Eunice and her strength to raise her children, shielding them from the horror taking place at the time, has been acclaimed from day one. The movie had its international release at the Venice Film Festival with a 10-minute standing ovation, followed by the Toronto International Film Festival, and the New York Film Festival.

Years In the Making

The Brazilian dictatorship occurred between 1964 and 1985. A military regime, the period was marked for its extreme violence, violation of human rights, and freedom of speech. Citizens were kidnapped, tortured, and killed. I am Still Here took seven years to be made and is based on the memoir of the same name written by Eunice’s youngest son Marcelo Rubens Paiva. Salles has been Marcelo’s friend since childhood. When asked why it took all these years to finalize the project, Salles says he wanted to be truthful to the family and capture their essence. The politics in Brazil at the time was also a factor in the production. From 2019 to 2023 Brazil was ruled by Jair Bolsonaro, a right-wing nationalist who praised multiple times the dictatorship period but omitted the killings and torture. “We would not have had permission to shoot in public spaces.” The director said during an interview with CNN “The movie is a comeback product of democracy to Brazil”.

The Full Circle

Fernanda Montenegro, one of the best actresses in Brazil and a National treasure was nominated for Best Actress at the Oscar in 1996 for her role in Central Station, also directed by Salles. It was the first time Brazil ever made it into the Academy. Montenegro, who also appears in I am Still Here as older Eunice, is no less than Torres’ mother in real life. The loss to Gwyneth Paltrow in the 71^st edition of the Academy Awards left a bitter taste in Brazilians’ mouths and a frustration that lasted 26 years. With Torres’ nomination, Brazil is hungrier than ever for a victory. In an interview with Variety Torres says that the I am Still Here carries the pride of a nation. “It’s the country on the red carpet. And because my mother was in the race before, it raised a sense of national pride. But this fever came from the film.” The actress describes being recognized in a movie alongside her mother as “pure bliss”.

Torres is also an adored and famous actress in her home country. The comedy Slaps and Kisses in which she works at a bride shop in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro is remembered and talked to this day. “I don’t differentiate comedy from drama, I pick a good project,” says Torres.                              

For the role of Eunice, Torres worked alongside the best acting coach in Brazil, Helena Varvaki to fully immerse herself in the character. She ended every session in character with a letter addressed to Rubens or one of her five children. “The word I find for Eunice is ‘civility,’” she says. “She’s a civilized human being. And she was living in an uncivilized moment of history.

The Pride of A Whole Nation

The Oscars will take place on March 2nd, a Sunday of Carnaval, one of the most famous holidays in the country. Throughout the whole week, Brazilians take the streets dancing and singing, dressed up in all types of costumes. This year many have chosen to honour Torres dressing up as her, the peak of fame as she said during an interview in Los Angeles “The pinnacle of achievement in Brazil is to become a costume in Carnival — for people to go in the streets dressed up as you.”

Brazil’s vast culture from music to cinema is vastly known in the country. As Torres mentions during an interview, Brazilians have a full interest in themselves and their culture. When a person becomes famous globally, the whole country cheers with joy. “It’s very rare that someone [succeeds] abroad, so when it happens, there’s this pride that someone is recognizing something that we always knew was a talent. It’s like a confirmation.” Torres explains in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

As for her expectations, Torres humbly says “It can happen, but I don’t know. I don’t like expectations. I want to be there, happy just because I’m there.” Whether a statue or not, Brazil feels it has already won. Like Eunice tells her children in the movie, they will smile. Brazil will keep smiling.