The Brazilian government celebrated the Oscar for Best International Film awarded on Sunday night (2) to ‘I’m Still Here’, by director Walter Salles. On social media, Brazil’s President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Workers’ Party), congratulated those involved in the production.
“Today is the day to feel even prouder of being Brazilian: proud of our cinema, our artists and, above all, proud of our democracy. Janja [as the first lady is known] and I are very happy watching everything live,” Lula wrote on X. “The Oscar for Best International Film for I’m Still Here is a recognition of the work of Walter Salles and the whole team, Fernanda Torres and Fernanda Montenegro [who played the protagonist, Eunice Paiva, in different moments of her life], Selton Mello, Marcelo Rubens Paiva and his family and everyone involved in this extraordinary work that showed Brazil and the world the importance of fighting authoritarianism. Congratulations! Long live Brazilian cinema, long live I’m Still Here,” he posted.
In another post, Lula congratulated actress Fernanda Torres on the film’s campaign and for her performance as Eunice Paiva. “Dear Fernanda, you honored Brazil with your brilliant performance in I’m Still Here and enchanted the whole world playing the great Eunice Paiva. Receive hugs and a loving kiss from me and Janja,” the president posted.
For her part, First Lady Janja Silva made her own statement via her Instagram account. “In times of so much hatred and authoritarianism, I’m Still Here reminds us of moments we never want to live again,” she wrote. “Long live Eunice Paiva, this brilliant woman who defended her family and the memory of her husband to the end! Long live Fernanda Torres, who played Eunice’s story in an exceptional way (in the hearts of Brazilians, the Oscar is yours!). Long live Fernanda Montenegro, Walter Salles, Marcelo Rubens Paiva, Selton Mello and the entire cast and production team. Congratulations, you shine!”, she posted.
The future Minister of Institutional Relations for the Presidency, Gleisi Hoffmann, apologized for not being able to curb the World Cup feeling that took Brazil. “Sorry guys, but it was like a World Cup! And there was a cup! Congratulations Walter Salles! The success of the movie I’m Still Here is incredible at such a delicate time, when our democracy was most at risk. Long live Brazilian culture!”.
Similarly, the leader of the Workers’ Party (PT, in Portuguese) in the Chamber of Deputies, Lindbergh Farias, posted a video alongside Hoffmann, with whom he is engaged, and took the opportunity to argue that there should be no amnesty for people who took part in the attempted coup in Brazil between 2022 and 2023. “Long live Brazil. Long live Brazilian cinema. Long live democracy. [That’s a] Historic moment! We’re still here! NO AMNESTY!” he wrote.
Brazilian ministries celebrate
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture also made official statements congratulating Salles on winning Best International Film and Torres on her unprecedented nomination for Best Actress at the most important international film awards.
“The first Brazilian film to win the Oscar for Best International Film, ‘I’m Still Here’ portrays the life of Brazilian lawyer and activist Eunice Paiva, a great leader in the defense of human rights, democracy and the right to memory, truth and justice. The film recalls the history of resistance and the fight for justice to punish crimes committed by the military dictatorship,” the statement reads.
