Selton Mello and Fernanda Torres have recognized one another for many years. Mello had a visitor arc on Torres’ Brazilian present “Regular Folks,” which ran from 2001-2003, earlier than reaching large fame as each an actor and filmmaker. He had additionally labored along with her brother, filmmaker Cláudio Torres, and her mom, legendary actor Fernanda Montenegro — maybe best-known to American audiences for her Oscar-nominated flip in Walter Salles’ 1998 movie “Central Station.” Says Mello, “I actually really feel like a part of the household.” 

Now the pair are enjoying husband and spouse Rubens and Eunice Paiva in Salles’ acclaimed drama “I’m Nonetheless Right here,” based mostly on the memoir by Marcelo Rubens Paiva. Paiva is a well known author in Brazil, and his 1982 autobiography, “Pleased Outdated 12 months,” particulars the accident that led to him changing into a tetraplegic. That e book additionally mentions how in 1970, when he was 11 years outdated, his father, Rubens, disappeared and was presumed murdered by the Brazilian navy. “We knew of his father solely as a headline,” says Torres. “We knew he had been tortured and killed by the navy and the physique was by no means discovered, however we by no means knew the complete story.”

It wasn’t till 2015, when Paiva revealed “I’m Nonetheless Right here,” that the world discovered not solely the small print of his father’s disappearance, however the inspirational story of  Eunice, who additionally survived torture and imprisonment to begin a brand new life with their 5 youngsters and develop into a profitable legal professional and human rights advocate. “It was then I discovered that not solely was his father this superhero,” says Torres, “however I found the journey of his mom, this nice heroine.”

“I’m Nonetheless Right here” may be very completely different materials from Mello and Torres’ first collaboration, however the pair have earned raves for his or her delicate portrayals because the movie premiered in September on the Venice Movie Pageant, the place it received finest screenplay. Torres simply received a Golden Globe nomination for finest actress in a drama, and the movie is shortlisted for the worldwide characteristic Oscar. The movie will likely be launched in U.S. cinemas Jan. 15 by Sony Footage Classics. 

Although she had labored with Salles earlier than and her mom was already solid because the elder Eunice, Torres wasn’t his first selection for the half. That may be because of the enormous success of her 2011 sequence “Slaps & Kisses,” wherein she performed a romantically flawed bridal store worker. “After all I’m a drama actress, however I grew to become so well-known for 2 enormous sitcoms,” Torres notes. “I believe I did an excessive amount of comedy for Walter to consider me.” So, when Salles requested her to learn the script for “I’m Nonetheless Right here,” it was as a colleague, not as his potential Eunice. “My mom was already within the movie, and he stated he needed my opinion,” says Torres. “It was a tremendous script, however I by no means thought he was going to ask me. Which is sweet, as a result of there was no stress between us.”

Nonetheless, when the director did ultimately provide her the position, she admits she wasn’t completely shocked, and fortunately accepted. And the earlier relationship between the 2 actors and that comedy background got here in helpful on set. “Fernanda is hysterical,” Mello raves. “She’s tremendous humorous, and even with the tragic backstory to this movie, she might be hilarious. We may have enjoyable behind the cameras, which is ideal.”

Torres was thrilled that their off-screen chemistry got here alive on display screen. “Generally you don’t know if will probably be there, however on this case, it occurred,” she says. And since the movie was shot chronologically, she was ready to make use of the absence she felt when Mello left the set. “The scene the place I come again and he’s gone, I’m actually feeling the loss,” she reveals. “I’m touched as an actress and as a personality and I believe you may [feel] it within the movie.”

“Once I smile and go away on the display screen, I left the movie,” Mello recollects. “And so they keep in the home, they usually miss Rubens, they usually miss me. It was a gorgeous bond we created with us and with the children. And Fernanda is the very best accomplice.” 

Mello, who has by no means shot a movie so as earlier than, beloved the method — and that the remainder of the movie got here as a shock to him. “I noticed the film like an viewers member,” he says. “And after I go away, I see what occurs, and I’m shocked and heartbroken.” 

Regardless of the difficult materials, Torres says engaged on the movie was a pleasure, largely resulting from Salles creating an atmosphere that “was virtually sacred.” Salles himself had a deep private connection to the fabric — as a toddler he performed with the Paiva youngsters and visited the very home depicted within the movie. Torres notes that no person was on their telephones on the set, and the younger actors enjoying the Paiva youngsters had been normally solely informed what can be taking place in a scene shortly earlier than capturing. “Walter is aware of the actor is the center of a scene so he’s so respectful and useful,” she says. “He created a world, not a set. That home we shot in is a personality — it smells like a house, it seems like a house.”

The actors had been additionally impressed by the way in which that the movie, regardless of detailing a tragedy, is designed to encourage. “I hate films that you just go away feeling worse than once you arrived on the cinema,” says Torres. “It’s powerful to see what this household went by means of, however they survived. And that household created this boy that wrote this stunning e book and the movie is a continuation of that household. I believe it’s a really hopeful movie.”

And it’s a film that folks everywhere in the world have been responding to. It opened at No. 1 in Brazil, besting each “Venom: The Final Dance” and “Purple One,” and has performed to rhapsodic audiences at festivals worldwide. 

Each actors are deeply touched by the way in which the movie has resonated with audiences. When it premiered on the Venice Movie Pageant they usually first noticed the response — which included a 10-minute standing ovation — Mello says he had a realization. “I stated to Fernanda, ‘Oh my God, this movie is the physique,’” Mello recollects. “The physique that they by no means discovered is the movie. As a result of now the justice was accomplished. All of the Brazilian individuals and audiences everywhere in the world [are] watching this movie, giving a tribute to him and to her.”