It’s a big deal for Brazilian actor Fernanda Torres to win the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama. Walter Salles directed “I’m Still Here,” and she was awarded for her powerful performance. Angelina Jolie, Nicole Kidman, Kate Winslet, Tilda Swinton, and Pamela Anderson are all heavyweight contenders, making this win even more impressive. Art.
This award means a lot to Torres because it comes 25 years after her film, “Central Station,” got a nomination in the same category for her mother, Fernanda Montenegro, a well-known actress in Brazilian cinema. For her part in “Central Station” in 1999, Montenegro was also nominated for an Oscar. In “I’m Still Here,” she plays a character older than Torres’.
As Torres accepted the award, she spoke from the heart and said, “Of course, I want to dedicate this to my mother.” You have no idea. “She came here 25 years ago.” “This is proof that art can endure through life, even in hard times like these,” she said to stress the lasting power of art.
Salles’s first serious movie in 12 years, “I’m Still Here,” is based on the true story of Eunice Paiva, a mother of five whose life is shattered by Brazil’s wartime government. The film shows Eunice’s painful journey after the government that took power in 1964 kidnaps and kills her husband, Reubens, who used to be a congressman. It tells the story of her 20-year fight to get his death recognized.
Critics have praised Tores’ acting as both subtle and powerful. She plays a woman who has to be strong for her kids while also dealing with her own sadness and doubt behind closed doors. The film, which is being released by Sony Pictures Classics, has already been nominated for many prizes and is now on the shortlist for Best International Feature at the Oscars.
During her acceptance speech, Torres connected the film’s themes to current global problems. Referring to the terrible things happening around the world, she said, “This is a film that helps us think about how to survive in times like these.”
The film’s examination of life under totalitarianism has struck a chord with viewers and critics, making it especially pertinent in today’s political environment. A nomination for “I’m Still Here” for Best Non-English Language Film at the Golden Globes makes it even more of a strong candidate this awards season.
