Speaking on the Times in 2019, The legend of Brazilian appearing Fernanda Montenegro described an Oscar nomination 20 years earlier for its position in Walter Salles’s “Central Station” – and his huge marketing campaign for this – as “a visit to Jupiter”.
The recognition of the United States of Montenegro was unprecedented: the primary time {that a} Brazilian actor competed on the Oscars. But the splendid and lengthy means of interviews, events and occasions within the sector has been stunning and extremely international for the honored star.
“I used to be 70 years outdated, talking in one other language, which represented one other tradition, and I used to be celebrated by nice artists that I had by no means stopped wanting on the display,” added Montenegro. “They handled me as the identical.”
Now, in a second filled with circle worthy of a fairy story, her daughter, Fernanda Torres, made her nomination to behave as a protagonist Oscar-the second within the historical past of Brazil-for the historic drama set of the 70s “i am Still right here “,” additionally directed by Salles, wherein the 95 -year -old Montenegro has a brief look.
“I used to be additionally going to Jupiter, however with a greater spaceship,” says Torres, 59 years outdated, on his seasonal expertise of the prizes throughout a current interview within the Caa workplaces in Century City instantly after asking questions and solutions with Salles within the room of Agency screening.
He spent a whole lot of time in Los Angeles in current months, with a program filled with screening, printing and tv apparitions (together with a January look on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”). Even if we’re chatting in the direction of the tip of this lengthy journey, the informal stylish Torres, sporting a leather-based jacket, nonetheless communicate of “are nonetheless right here” with vigorous conviction, always laughing.
Compare his quite a few questions and posts solutions -Screening to an evangelizing mission. “It is sort of a priest who goes to the village for village, taking the phrase of the Lord,” he says.
“I’m nonetheless right here”, a movie in Portuguese, shouldn’t be the contender of the obvious prizes. Based on the Memorie di Marcelo Paiva e-book, the movie tells the true story of Eunice Paiva (Torres), a housewife who turned a lawyer and activist who raised her youngsters and fought for justice after her husband, Rubens, a former politician , he disappeared in 1971 throughout the Military Denture of Brazil.
“It’s unbelievable how this movie touches hearts,” provides Torres. “Gradually, individuals began speaking about it, and it turned this darkish horse in the course of nice movies.”
The movie campaign has made its fruits. “I’m nonetheless right here” has additionally acquired a nod of the Oscar for the worldwide movie and – with a shock – the perfect movie, along with Hollywood’s Behemoth as “Wicked” and “Dune: Part Two”.
Fernanda Torres within the movie “I’m nonetheless right here.”
(Alile Onawale / Sony Pictures Classics)
In January, Torres made historical past as the primary Brazilian actor to win a Golden Globe. Brazilian followers have been euphoric since then, enhancing each put up on social media on her and on the film with I like thousands and thousands.
“In Brazil, we’re very pleased with our tradition and we eat our tradition,” explains Torres. “But it is vitally uncommon that somebody (succeeds) overseas, so when it occurs, there’s this pleasure that somebody is recognizing one thing now we have at all times recognized was a expertise. It is sort of a affirmation. “
The victory of the Golden Globe of Torres and its attainable Oscar nomination had been brought on by a widespread euphoria within the South American nation.
“There was a humble lady saying: ‘I believed I used to be there. That trophy was for me. It was for all artists. I believed it was ours, “recollects a deeply moved Torres A TV Clip of a girl who reacts emotionally to the victory of the Golden Globe of the actor who turned viral. “In Brazil, he reached this depth. I do know fame, however this isn’t fame – it’s greater than this. “
Montenegro, who misplaced the Oscar to Gwyneth Paltrow in “Shakespeare in Love”, is comfortable to see his daughter repeating his unlikely feat appointed all these years later.
“He may be very comfortable – he’s proud,” says Torres, a radiant of adoration for his vigorous mom. “He is 95 years outdated and nonetheless works like a livid lion. Living so lengthy and seeing it occurs, and for a film wherein we discover ourselves collectively, it’s stunning. I imply, it is pure magic. “
The Brazilians had been thrown right into a collective funk in 1999 when Montenegro was not victorious. (“My mom is sort of a queen in Brazil,” says Torres.) Second newsFans have by no means handed us, with a lot of them who turned to social media yearly in Oscar Night to name him “the best injustice in historical past”. Judging from the fervent posts of this yr’s race, they hope that Torres has a greater consequence.
But among the many purple rugs, photograph shoots and glamorous conferences with Hollywood A-Lister, there’s a danger of forgetting what is absolutely essential, Torres affords.
“You can lose your self considering that it’s you,” he says. “In this case, I at all times keep in mind that what makes individuals so stunned by my presence within the movie is the truth that I used to be capable of join and be trustworthy to Eunice Paiva. It is the star of this movie. He taught me loads about appearing, on the detention of feelings, on not being melodramatic, on self -control. “
From his premiere to the Venice Film Festival final yr, “I’m Still right here” has gathered vital reward for the unpretentious efficiency of Torres primarily based on internalized ache. Aside from Salles’s route, Torres additionally channeled some key recommendation from his mom.
“In one in all our conversations, my mom as soon as mentioned to me:” When you do a Greek tragedy, you may’t begin crying with the primary unhealthy information, “says Torres.” On the opposite, it’s a must to swallow and bear. “And I’m remembered of this once I was enjoying eunice. “
With the United States and different international locations around the globe that now face the specter of self -acting in possible way, Torres believes that the resistance of his character however diligent is usually a mannequin on how we are able to bear and defeat retrograde ideologies and oppressive governments.
“He understood that there can be a very long time as a result of the dictatorship was over and that his wrestle would take many years, however he by no means gave up,” says Torres. “She returned to high school and have become a lawyer for human rights. We have to be ready for an extended marathon, like eunice. “
Paiva, who died in 2018, remains to be implementing change at residence by way of “I’m nonetheless right here”. Not solely did the movie introduced collectively individuals of reverse ideological choices in Brazilian cinemas (he bought over 4 million tickets from his launch in November) however within the Supreme Court of the nation, Minister Flávio Dino talked about Salles’s movie whereas discussing to switch a ‘amnesty of 1979 the regulation in order that some crimes dedicated throughout the dictatorship – such because the concealment of an organ – might be pursued.
In addition to politics, Torres thinks that “I’m nonetheless right here” has carried out so properly everywhere in the world as a result of the general public feels an elemental empathy for a mom and youngsters in issue. Salles’ narration focuses on human expertise in horrible circumstances.
“Walter at all times quotes my mom as a result of as soon as he mentioned:” I simply wish to do existential theater.’ And Walter made an existential movie. “
As for the best way the highlight on the movie and his efficiency may impact his profession, Torres stays cautious. After successful an award for appearing on the Cannes Film Festival in 1986 (one other first nationwide crew for Brazil) for “Love Me Forever or Never” by Arnaldo Jabor, issues haven’t modified.
“There was nothing overseas for me,” he recollects. “I did not speak English as I do right this moment, and I used to be not a particular magnificence, which helps if you find yourself younger, so I went again to my nation, the place there was no movie business and I did a whole lot of theater.”
This time, after a few years of success in well-liked tv tasks, she want to work with Pedro Almodóvar or Denis Villeneuve, or be a part of the forged of “Severance”. (“I might pay to be there with Ben Stiller, (John) Turturro and Christopher Walken, please,” he says, a pure fan.)
However, Torres won’t ever fully go away Brazil as a result of it’s the place he feels he could make the distinction together with his work out of display as an editorialist, novelist and playwright of newspapers.
“When individuals ask me for Hollywood, I believe:” What is Hollywood? “Hollywood might be all over the place.”
The Oscars will happen throughout the Carnival week, the nationwide celebration of Brazil. “People would go loopy,” says Torres on the response that any victory for “are nonetheless right here” doubtless. For now, Torres has already transcended his earlier superstar standing to enter a rarefied stage as a part of Brazil’s collective consciousness in a brand new method.
“The peak of success in Brazil is to develop into a dressing up within the carnival – for individuals undergo the streets dressed such as you,” explains Torres, smiling. “And it’s already occurring. People costume whereas I maintain the golden globe or like me in one of many sitcom that I did. “
Speaking of what may occur on the evening of the Oscars, the regal however disarming Torres is selecting to be thankful for all of the awards that has already acquired.
“I believe the possibilities of successful are very low,” says Torres, maybe too humbly, of a race that has already seen his a part of twists. “It might occur, however I do not know. I do not like expectations. I wish to be there, comfortable simply because I’m there. “
Regardless of the truth that the identify of Torres is within the envelope, is already engraved within the historical past of Brazil.
