Walter Salles’ film ‘Im Still Here’ garnered the Best International Feature Film award at the 97th Academy Awards, triggering jubilant celebrations among Brazilians at home and in streets adorned with ongoing Carnival festivities since Saturday. The film’s success has now inspired plans to convert the ‘I’m Still Here’ house into a cinematic museum.
As the latest award season concludes, critics and viewers are weighing in on the Oscars, highlighting the ceremony’s excessive length and the need for reform to enhance viewer engagement. Host Conan O’Brien even quipped about the show’s length, suggesting it induced Stockholm syndrome among its audience.
Brazil’s triumph has captured the nation’s pride following its first-ever Oscar win. The announcement of ‘I’m Still Here’ as the Best International Feature awardee was met with unbounded enthusiasm, reminiscent of a World Cup victory. The celebrations involved Oscar-themed parties with live broadcasts and interruptions of scheduled programming to accommodate the event. Even President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva praised the monumental win via his social media.
The award win comes during Brazil’s Carnival season, where ‘I’m Still Here’ and actress Fernanda Torres have become the central figures. Torres’ imagery appeared on carnival merchandise and fueled the festivities, demonstrating the community’s enthusiasm for its first Oscar victory. The movie’s success in theaters has paralleled only to recent Marvel releases in Brazil.
While the Oscar victory is a moment of national pride, ‘I’m Still Here’ tackles the harrowing legacy of Brazil’s military dictatorship. It exemplifies the enduring impact of historical events on contemporary society, a theme especially poignant in today’s political climate. The movie has prompted discussions about the nation’s past and its relevance in the present.
In response to the film’s success, Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes announced plans to purchase and transform the location where ‘I’m Still Here’ was filmed into a public cinema museum. This initiative signals the potential for cultural growth and preservation in commemoration of Brazil’s cinematic achievement.
