Fernanda Montenegro talks about ‘I'm still here’, reunion with Walter Salles, and working with her children: ‘It’s a rebirth’
Fernanda Montenegro talks about ‘I'm still here’, reunion with Walter Salles, and working with her children: ‘It’s a rebirth’ .      In her first interview about the drama, the actress discusses reuniting with Walter Salles and sharing the role with her daughter, Fernanda Torres Just before the voice of Erasmo Carlos in "É preciso dar um jeito, meu amigo" accompanies the end credits of "I'm still here" by Walter Salles, a brief, silent, and impactful appearance by Fernanda Montenegro concludes the storyline of Eunice Paiva (a character she shares with her daughter, Fernanda Torres) with great finesse.
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Just before the voice of Erasmo Carlos in "É preciso dar um jeito, meu amigo" accompanies the end credits of "I'm still here" by Walter Salles, a brief, silent, and impactful appearance by Fernanda Montenegro concludes the storyline of Eunice Paiva (a character she shares with her daughter, Fernanda Torres) with great finesse.

In her first interview about the film that marks her reunion with Walter Salles after their work on "Central Station", Fernanda, at 95, talks about the new partnership, the film's success in Brazilian cinemas—where it has already been viewed by 2.7 million people—the work of her daughter, and upcoming projects.

Nominated for the Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Actress in 1999, Fernanda recently celebrated her daughter's Golden Globe nomination. "Nanda, you have done extraordinary work, and it deserves recognition! I'm very moved by your nomination, my daughter," she commented in an Instagram post.

You manage to portray the emptiness caused by Alzheimer's and the filling of memory in just a short time on screen. Can you talk a bit about your work in "I'm still here"?

Walter highlighted Eunice's face already sublimated in the film. Her face having already completed its journey. Her heroism. The emptiness can be a relief.

26 years after "Central Station", what was it like to reunite with Walter on set? And this time, sharing a character with your daughter?

It's the "Eternal Return". It's a rebirth. Many encounters between Nanda and me have already occurred. Scenic, cinematographic, and television encounters. It's also a rebirth to work with Walter again.

Fernanda Montenegro in "I'm still here" — Foto: Press release

Why is it important to tell the story of the Paiva family today?

I believe, in Walter's conception, "I'm still here" is an existential film—in the full sense of existential. In the current moment, with the frightening unrest of a right-wing policy so violently radicalized in our country, the film has become politically, gloriously, a cry of alert. The audiences understand this tragic context of the film. The audiences for "I'm still here" are packed.

Today, Fernanda is experiencing a similar moment to what you experienced after the release of "Central Station", participating in a major campaign this awards season. What do you remember about that period and how have you seen your daughter go through the same? And how do you view the expectation of Brazilians for nominations for the film?

25 years ago, regarding the broad system of the American film industry, everything was much more powerful, glorious, and suffocating. Today, there, everything is a bit more open. Nanda offers an extraordinary performance. With or without an Oscar, the film has already crossed our borders. The film is happening in the world.

In english: Read more stories on O GLOBO's website

Recently, you filmed with your son (director Cláudio Torres) the comedy "Velhos bandidos". What is it like for you to work with family?

For us, working with family is very natural. "Velhos Bandidos", directed by Claudio, is a delightful comedy. Comedy. Together in the cast, we have Ary Fontoura, Vladimir Brichta, Bruna Marquezine, Lázaro Ramos, and myself. Gloriously, in action in the film, we also have Vera Fischer, Teca Pereira, Tony Tornado, Reginaldo Faria, and Hamilton Vaz Pereira. In March, the film "Vitória", directed by Andrucha Waddington, my son-in-law, will also premiere. I have done three films with Andrucha as the director. I highlight the joy of having starred with Nanda in the extraordinary "The house of sand", acclaimed internationally.

Vladimir Brichta, Fernanda Montenegro, Bruna Marquezine, Ary Fontoura and Lázaro Ramos — Foto: Press release

After the pandemic, theaters have regained their audiences, as your monologue on Simone de Beauvoir proved. Cinema took a little longer, but now seems to be reconnecting with viewers. "I'm still here" has already sold over 2 million tickets. How do you view this moment?

We are living in the electronic age, where a button practically solves everything. But humans need other humans. And that's why theaters in Brazil are packed. Human communion is essential. The presence of others, in raw form, is fundamental.

At 95, you have one film in theaters and two more set to premiere ("Vitória" and "Velhos bandidos"), in addition to your theater work. Do you plan to return to the stage? How do you stay so active?

I continue to read, throughout Brazil, reference texts by Nelson Rodrigues and Simone de Beauvoir. And, thanks to God and the gods, for always packed audiences. Both Nelson Rodrigues and Simone de Beauvoir. I remember the 15,000 people in Ibirapuera listening to Simone (a presentation on August 19 this year). This craft of mine only exists with the presence of another human being. And that human being also needs my presence. This theatrical interplay, theater, has existed since humans stood on two legs. Nothing is more representative of the human being than Theater.
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2024-12-15
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     In her first interview about the drama, the actress discusses reuniting with Walter Salles and sharing the role with her daughter, Fernanda Torres Just before the voice of Erasmo Carlos in "É preciso dar um jeito, meu amigo" accompanies the end credits of "I'm still here" by Walter Salles, a brief, silent, and impactful appearance by Fernanda Montenegro concludes the storyline of Eunice Paiva (a character she shares with her daughter, Fernanda Torres) with great finesse.
Awards season: Understand the 'I'm still here' Oscar campaign
Who killed Rubens Paiva: Report revealed in 2014 the killer of the former congressman portrayed in the film 'I'm still here'
In her first interview about the film that marks her reunion with Walter Salles after their work on "Central Station", Fernanda, at 95, talks about the new partnership, the film's success in Brazilian cinemas—where it has already been viewed by 2.7 million people—the work of her daughter, and upcoming projects.
Nominated for the Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Actress in 1999, Fernanda recently celebrated her daughter's Golden Globe nomination. "Nanda, you have done extraordinary work, and it deserves recognition! I'm very moved by your nomination, my daughter," she commented in an Instagram post.
You manage to portray the emptiness caused by Alzheimer's and the filling of memory in just a short time on screen. Can you talk a bit about your work in "I'm still here"?
Walter highlighted Eunice's face already sublimated in the film. Her face having already completed its journey. Her heroism. The emptiness can be a relief.
26 years after "Central Station", what was it like to reunite with Walter on set? And this time, sharing a character with your daughter?
It's the "Eternal Return". It's a rebirth. Many encounters between Nanda and me have already occurred. Scenic, cinematographic, and television encounters. It's also a rebirth to work with Walter again.
Fernanda Montenegro in "I'm still here"
Press release
Why is it important to tell the story of the Paiva family today?
I believe, in Walter's conception, "I'm still here" is an existential film—in the full sense of existential. In the current moment, with the frightening unrest of a right-wing policy so violently radicalized in our country, the film has become politically, gloriously, a cry of alert. The audiences understand this tragic context of the film. The audiences for "I'm still here" are packed.
Today, Fernanda is experiencing a similar moment to what you experienced after the release of "Central Station", participating in a major campaign this awards season. What do you remember about that period and how have you seen your daughter go through the same? And how do you view the expectation of Brazilians for nominations for the film?
25 years ago, regarding the broad system of the American film industry, everything was much more powerful, glorious, and suffocating. Today, there, everything is a bit more open. Nanda offers an extraordinary performance. With or without an Oscar, the film has already crossed our borders. The film is happening in the world.
In english: Read more stories on O GLOBO's website
Recently, you filmed with your son (director Cláudio Torres) the comedy "Velhos bandidos". What is it like for you to work with family?
For us, working with family is very natural. "Velhos Bandidos", directed by Claudio, is a delightful comedy. Comedy. Together in the cast, we have Ary Fontoura, Vladimir Brichta, Bruna Marquezine, Lázaro Ramos, and myself. Gloriously, in action in the film, we also have Vera Fischer, Teca Pereira, Tony Tornado, Reginaldo Faria, and Hamilton Vaz Pereira. In March, the film "Vitória", directed by Andrucha Waddington, my son-in-law, will also premiere. I have done three films with Andrucha as the director. I highlight the joy of having starred with Nanda in the extraordinary "The house of sand", acclaimed internationally.
Vladimir Brichta, Fernanda Montenegro, Bruna Marquezine, Ary Fontoura and Lázaro Ramos
Press release
After the pandemic, theaters have regained their audiences, as your monologue on Simone de Beauvoir proved. Cinema took a little longer, but now seems to be reconnecting with viewers. "I'm still here" has already sold over 2 million tickets. How do you view this moment?
We are living in the electronic age, where a button practically solves everything. But humans need other humans. And that's why theaters in Brazil are packed. Human communion is essential. The presence of others, in raw form, is fundamental.
At 95, you have one film in theaters and two more set to premiere ("Vitória" and "Velhos bandidos"), in addition to your theater work. Do you plan to return to the stage? How do you stay so active?
I continue to read, throughout Brazil, reference texts by Nelson Rodrigues and Simone de Beauvoir. And, thanks to God and the gods, for always packed audiences. Both Nelson Rodrigues and Simone de Beauvoir. I remember the 15,000 people in Ibirapuera listening to Simone (a presentation on August 19 this year). This craft of mine only exists with the presence of another human being. And that human being also needs my presence. This theatrical interplay, theater, has existed since humans stood on two legs. Nothing is more representative of the human being than Theater.
La traducción de este texto al español fue realizada por el Proyecto Irineu, una iniciativa de O GLOBO para desarrollar herramientas de inteligencia artificial. Aquí está el enlace al reportaje original.
Fernanda Montenegro talks about ‘I'm still here’, reunion with Walter Salles, and working with her children: ‘It’s a rebirth’