LOS ANGELES — I’m Still Here, a poignant drama about a family torn apart by Brazil’s military dictatorship, made history on Sunday by becoming the first Brazilian film to win the Oscar for Best International Film.
Directed by Walter Salles, the film stars Fernanda Torres as Eunice Paiva, the wife of Rubens Paiva, a leftist congressman who was forcibly taken from his family in 1971 during Brazil’s military regime and never returned. The film focuses on Eunice’s resilience in the face of loss and her unwavering resistance to the oppressive regime.
During his acceptance speech, Salles honored Eunice’s courage, noting that the film’s success was a tribute to her legacy. “This goes to a woman who, after a loss suffered during an authoritarian regime, decided not to bend and resist,” Salles said, as the audience gave a standing ovation. “This prize goes to her,” he added, praising Torres’ powerful portrayal of Eunice, alongside Fernanda Montenegro, who plays the older version of the character.
The film’s victory has become a symbol of pride for Brazil, with the country’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva celebrating the win on social media. “Today is the day to feel even prouder of being Brazilian,” he wrote on X. “Pride for our cinema, for our artists, and, primarily, pride for our democracy.”
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