Fernanda Torres Didn’t Win, But This Oscar Made History
The 2025 Academy Awards will be remembered as a milestone for Brazil. Even though Fernanda Torres did not win Best Actress, the victory of Eu Ainda Estou Aqui (I’m Still Here) as Best International Feature Film represents something much greater than a golden statuette.
It is a triumph of Brazilian storytelling, historical memory, and global recognition of a painful but necessary truth. This film is not just cinema—it is a testimony, a statement, and a mirror reflecting a past that still echoes in the present.
Why This Oscar Matters Beyond Cinema
Brazil is a country of contrasts. It is vibrant, joyful, and culturally rich, yet it is also a place where deep inequalities, corruption, and political struggles continue to shape daily life.
For a nation where social disparity is overwhelming, victories like this serve as global spotlights—not just celebrating artistic achievements, but forcing the world to look at Brazil beyond its clichés of beaches, football, and carnival.
What Makes Eu Ainda Estou Aqui So Important?
This film brings to light a recent and still painful chapter in Brazilian history: the dictatorship era (1964-1985) and its brutal impact on families who lost loved ones to political repression.
Unlike traditional narratives filled with exaggerated dramatization, Eu Ainda Estou Aqui tells this story with subtlety, power, and authenticity, allowing the audience to experience the silence, the loss, and the resilience of those left behind.
The Personal Story Behind the Film
The film is based on real events—the forced disappearance of political dissidents during the military regime. It explores the journey of those who searched for answers, justice, and closure in a country that tried to erase the truth.
The screenplay is inspired by the works of Marcelo Rubens Paiva, an acclaimed Brazilian writer whose father, Rubens Paiva, was a congressman kidnapped and killed by the dictatorship. His mother, Eunice Paiva, became one of the strongest voices in the fight for human rights in Brazil, never giving up on seeking the truth about her husband’s fate.
A Full-Circle Moment in Brazilian Cinema
This Oscar recognition is even more symbolic when we look at who was behind it.
- Walter Salles, the film’s director, has a deep personal connection to this story. He was close to the Paiva family and has been telling Brazil’s stories on the global stage for decades.
- Fernanda Torres, nominated for Best Actress, is the daughter of Fernanda Montenegro, who was nominated for an Oscar exactly 25 years ago for Central do Brasil (Central Station).
- In 1999, Walter Salles directed Central do Brasil, which was nominated for Best Foreign Film and earned Fernanda Montenegro her historic Best Actress nomination.
- Now, in 2025, the same director and the daughter of the previous nominee return to the Oscars—a continuation of Brazilian storytelling on the world stage.
Even though Fernanda Torres did not win Best Actress, the victory of the film itself was historic.
Why Brazil Needs Global Recognition Like This
An Oscar win goes beyond cinema—it represents visibility, influence, and economic opportunity for the country’s cultural sector.
- More global recognition attracts investment in Brazilian film, helping independent productions reach wider audiences.
- It forces the world to look at Brazil’s history—not just as a country of samba and football, but as a place with complex political and social narratives.
- It sparks national pride and reflection—a moment where Brazil sees itself represented, beyond entertainment, as part of global discussions on history and justice.
Brazil has always been celebrated for football, carnival, and natural beauty, but it needs to shine in education, economy, governance, and industry. The corruption, crime, and inequality that have held the country back for decades cannot define its future.
Perhaps moments like this—where Brazilian voices are heard globally through cinema—will push the country toward greater visibility, more accountability, and a stronger national identity beyond its struggles.
Final Thoughts: A Victory Beyond the Statuette
This Oscar is more than just an award—it is a testament to the resilience of memory, the power of truth, and the strength of those who refuse to be forgotten.
Brazil needs these moments. It needs to be seen, heard, and acknowledged on the world stage—not just for its beauty and talent, but for its history and its potential.
If more people look to Brazil with admiration for its art and respect for its stories, perhaps the country will begin to see itself not just as a place of great past struggles, but as a nation capable of building a powerful future.
