The Oscars are the major motion picture awards event, organized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for 96 years. The golden statuette is highly coveted by all professionals in the film industry, but although there have been Brazilian representatives in the Oscar nominations since 1945, the films from our country that have competed for the renowned award have been few, but memorable.
If you are curious to know which Brazilian films have been nominated for an Oscar, we have prepared a list with the synopsis and where to watch them, take a look:
Which Brazilian films have already been nominated for an Oscar? Where to watch these productions
1.The Promise Payer (1962)
Although some Brazilians had already competed for the Oscar, it was not until 1963 that a film competed for the Best International Film category, then called Best Foreign Film, with the feature film O Pagador de Promessas.
The production is based on the play written by Dias Gomes and was directed by Anselmo Duarte with Leonardo Villar as the main actor, as well as Glória Menezes, Geraldo Del Rey and Dionísio Azevedo.
The story revolves around Zé do burro and his donkey who was struck by lightning.
Fearful of losing the animal, Zé goes to a Candomblé temple and makes a promise to Santa Bárbara so that she can cure the animal. When the donkey recovered, he found himself obliged to keep his promise, which consisted of carrying a heavy wooden cross 42 kilometers from his farm to the church of Santa Bárbara, in Salvador.
The film is available to watch on Globoplay.
2. The Quadrilho (1995)
In 1996, more than 30 years later, a new nomination for Brazilian film was obtained with the production O Quadrilho, competing again in the Best International Film category.
The film was directed by Fabio Barreto and based on the book of the same name by José Clemente Pozenato. In the main roles there are Glória Pires, Patrícia Pillar, Alexandre Paternost and Bruno Campos.
The story is set in 1910, in Rio Grande do Sul, where two Italian immigrant couples live together in the same house in a rural community of Serra Gaúcha. Everything was fine until the wife of one falls in love with the husband of the other, and she is loved in return. The two then decide to escape, leaving their respective partners behind to suffer the consequences of this decision.
The film is available on Globoplay and Amazon Prime Vídeo with a Premium subscription.
3. What’s This, Man (1997)
In 1998, there was a new nomination for a Brazilian production competing for the Oscar as best international film: O Que É Isso, Companheiro, based on the literary work of Fernando Gabeira.
The film was directed by Bruno Barreto and features performances from big names in Brazilian television such as Selton Mello, Fernanda Torres, Pedro Cardoso, Cláudia Abreu, Alessandra Negrini, Fernanda Montenegro, Matheus Nachtergaele, among many others.
The plot revolves around the journalist Fernando and his friend César who, after the publication of AI-5, become involved in the fight against the military dictatorship. They both join a left-wing guerrilla group, but when, in one of the group’s attacks, César is captured, Fernando plans to kidnap the United States ambassador who is in Brazil, to negotiate the freedom of his friend and some other. others, other imprisoned comrades.
The film is available on Globoplay and Amazon Prime Vídeo with a Premium subscription.
4. Central do Brasil (1998)
A year later, in 1999, another Brazilian film competed for the Oscar for best international film, in addition to the nomination for best actress for Fernanda Montenegro with the production Central do Brasil.
The film was directed by Walter Salles and starred Fernanda Montenegro, Vinícius de Oliveira, Marília Pêra, Soia Lira and Matheus Nachtergaele.
The plot takes place in the city center of Rio de Janeiro and follows Dora, a former teacher who writes letters to the illiterate at the Central do Brasil station. It is there that she meets Josué, a boy whose mother was run over and she needs to find the father she never knew, in the hinterland of the Northeast.
The film is available on Globoplay with a premium subscription, on Amazon Prime Video also with a premium subscription, and can be purchased on Apple TV, YouTube and Google Play Films and TV.
5. City of God (2002)
In 2004, the film City of God received an Oscar nomination for Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Editing, but did not take home any statuettes.
Directed by Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund, it featured Alexandre Rodrigues, Alice Braga, Douglas Silva, Darlan Cunha and Seu Jorge.
The story follows Buscapé and Dadinho, two young friends who live in Cidade de Deus, one of the most dangerous favelas in Rio de Janeiro. As they grow up, their paths diverge, while Dadinho becomes increasingly involved in the world of crime, Buscapé struggles to escape this reality, using his talent as a photographer to pursue a better life.
The film is available on Netflix, Paramount, Amazon Prime Video, Globoplay (premium subscription) and can be purchased on YouTube and Google Play Filmes and TV.
6. The Boy and the World (2013)
In 2016, another Brazilian film was nominated for an Oscar, this time for best animated film. The film The Boy and the World was written and directed by Alê Abreu and features the voices of Vinicius Garcia, Felipe Zilse, Lu Horta, Marco Aurélio Campos and Cassius Romero.
The production tells the journey of a boy who lives with his father and mother in an isolated house in the countryside. Due to lack of work, the father leaves home to look for work in the big city. Heartbroken, the boy packs his bags and takes the train towards this new world that his father stole from him, only to find an exploited and perspectiveless society, devastated by poverty.
The film is available on Globoplay’s premium subscription and for rental on YouTube, Google Play Filmes and TV and Apple TV.
7. Democracy in Vertigo (2019)
In 2020, the production of Democracia em Vertigem competed for the award for best documentary, being the first Brazilian film in the category to receive a nomination.
Directed by Petra Costa, the documentary was also produced by Joanna Natasegara, Tiago Pavan and Shane Boris, and portrays the impeachment trial of Dilma Rousseff, former president of Brazil, which led to the political polarization of the Brazilian population and gave space to ‘extreme – right, take power. In the film you can see inside and exclusive images of what was happening behind the scenes of the ABC Metalworkers Union and the Palácio da Alvorada, while the impeachment took place.
The film is available to watch on Netflix.
Source: Oscar
The post Where to see Brazilian films already nominated for an Oscar? appeared first on Olhar Digital.
Source: Olhar Digital
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
