The Brazilian Golden Globe

By: A. Lotufo

5th of January 2025 – Fernanda Torres, the lead actress of Ainda Estou Aqui, won her first Golden Globe, marking Brazil's first Golden Globe win.

Ainda Estou Aqui (or I’m Still Here) tells the story of Eunice Paiva, a woman who lived through the Brazilian dictatorship. She became a symbol of justice after she, her husband, and one of her daughters were taken into custody and locked in separate cells. While in detention, Eunice heard screams of torture, killings, and cries from other prisoners. When she was released, her daughter was there, but her husband was not. Eunice and her family were under constant surveillance, and she later discovered that her husband had been killed. Even after the dictatorship, she fought to prove that her husband’s death was at the hands of the military government—and she succeeded. This extremely inspiring, emotional, and captivating story was portrayed in the movie directed by Walter Salles and written by Marcelo Rubens Paiva (Eunice Paiva’s son).

Marcelo Rubens Paiva has become an important figure in Brazilian literature since his debut in 1982. After his first book, Feliz Ano Velho, he wrote over 10 more books, not including scripts for movies and theatre. His debut book sold over an estimated 1.5 million copies. Feliz Ano Velho is about the accident Paiva suffered at age 20, which left him quadriplegic—paralyzed below the neck, with the exception of his arms. He wrote Ainda Estou Aqui in 2015, and 9 years later, this story made history in both Brazilian and international cinema.

But the road to the Golden Globe began long before I’m Still Here. Fernanda Montenegro, Fernanda Torres' mother, was also nominated for a Golden Globe. Fernanda Montenegro portrayed Dora in Central do Brasil, a film about a woman who writes letters for illiterate people. She meets a boy named Josué, the son of one of her deceased clients, and the two embark on a journey to find Josué’s father. Along the way, they form a strong bond.

​Both Fernanda Torres and Fernanda Montenegro, who are inspiring figures in Brazilian television, have played numerous roles that left a lasting impact on Brazilian history. The Golden Globe awarded to Fernanda Torres was for “Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama.” It finally brought Brazilian cinema, so carefully curated, into the international spotlight. This award was not only thrilling for all Brazilians, but also well-deserved, and it marks the first of many to come.