This Sunday (2), the 97th edition of Oscar, the largest world cinema prize, happens. Brazil is in dispute with “I’m Still here”, by Walter Salles, who competes for three statuettes: the best international film, the best actress (Fernanda Torres) and the best film.
The presence of the film in the Oscar 2025 rekindles a controversial episode that involves “City of God”, which has undergone a boycott for 23 years and ended up outside the category of the best international film.
Launched in 2002 and directed by Fernando Meirelles, “Cidade de Deus” was not appointed for the 2003 Oscar. The reason was a boycott of the members of the Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences during the exhibition of the film for evaluation.
According to the regulation, the evaluators should watch the film to be considered in the category of the best international film, but part of the jurors has simply abandoned the session.
According to the critic Waldemar Dalenoge Neto reported UolThe mass abandonment was a strategy to reduce the degree of the film. A member of the Commission of the time said that the score dropped from 10 to 6 after the exhibition, which made the archive unattainable. The high level of violence interpreted in the film discontent more conservative voters, who classified him as attractive and useless.
Without the possibility in the category of the best international film, “Cidade de Deus” had its international debut postponed to January 2003, becoming suitable for the Oscar of the following year. In 2004, the film had four nominations: best direction, best adapted screenplay, better edition and better photography. Even with this recognition, the absence in the controversy for best international films has generated questions about the impartiality of the selection process.
Given the negative repercussion, the Academy has decided to review its rules to prevent the repetition of similar situations.
In 2005, a study was commissioned to analyze the failures in the indication process. The goal was to prevent acclaimed films from being excluded from internal manipulations. In response, the Academy implemented the pre-Riserve of the candidates in 2007, ensuring that prestigious works had more likely to be taken into consideration.
The new rule has also reduced Eurocentrism in the category of the best international film. First, most of the nominated came from Europe and the United States. With the change, the members started to suggest films from other countries, even if they had not received the highest initial notes. This has made room for greater diversity in prizes.
Two decades after the episode with Cidade de Deus, Brazil will be strongly present in the prizes with “I am still here”. The film should have a more fair trajectory in the dispute for the most important award of world cinema.
The Post Oscar: while a Brazilian film motivated a change of rule in the prizes appeared for the first time in digital look.
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.
