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Brazilian writer Marcelo Rubens Paiva fortunately swung his wheelchair back and forth, dancing with 1000’s of Carnival revelers there to have fun him and his work. Seconds later, an unidentified man confirmed Paiva his center finger, then threw a beer can and a backpack that hit him within the head.
Paiva, a well-liked writer in Brazil for 4 a long time, has had intense days and exchanges because the film based mostly on his 2015 e-book “I am Nonetheless Right here” turned a box-office success. The movie, a uncommon blockbuster within the South American nation, garnered three Oscar nominations forward of the awards ceremony Sunday.
Whereas thousands and thousands of Brazilians love the story for its long-overdue truth-telling concerning the nation’s 1964-1985 army dictatorship, others see it as left-wing propaganda. Paiva has been dismayed on the outpouring of hatred, principally on-line, directed at him.
“It’s merely (our) historical past being advised in the way in which we imagine it have to be advised, the way in which our household lived it, so it by no means occurs once more,” Paiva, 65, advised The Related Press in his Sao Paulo residence. “I guarantee you that a few of these on the far-right or on the best have watched it and perhaps modified their opinion.”
“I’m Nonetheless Right here” is up for finest image and finest worldwide function, whereas Fernanda Torres, who portrayed Paiva’s mom Eunice, is competing for finest actress. The movie facilities on the disappearance of Rubens Paiva, the writer’s father, and Eunice’s decadeslong quest to pressure authorities to verify his demise.
An essential story to inform
Paiva, certainly one of 5 siblings, has recognized success, however not as a lot controversy. His 1982 e-book “Completely satisfied Outdated Yr” narrating his life earlier than and after a diving accident put him in a wheelchair, bought greater than 1.5 million copies. He’s additionally an award-winning playwright, former TV discuss present host and political activist.
However he says nothing ready him for the sudden affect “I’m Nonetheless Right here” had because it received finest screenplay on the Venice Movie Pageant. Many different awards adopted since.
“That is very totally different; it’s extra intense due to social networks,” Paiva stated. “Individuals (around the globe) react in the identical technique to this film, with the identical emotion that Brazilians felt.”
After his e-book about his accident, he knew he nonetheless had one other essential story to inform.
“I used to be the son of a disappeared politician; few individuals knew what had occurred in the course of the dictatorship,” he stated.
That was largely as a result of Congress handed an amnesty legislation in 1979, because the dictatorship neared its finish, sparing perpetrators of political crimes from prosecution.
Cracks began to emerge in 2011 after then President Dilma Rousseff — a former guerrilla who was tortured in the course of the dictatorship — established a nationwide fact fee to analyze its abuses. It was one of many seeds for Paiva’s e-book and, later, the movie.
“Individuals have been asking for reparations for households of lacking politicians, they sued my father’s torturers,” he stated. “The army confirmed they have been upset, as a result of their colleagues and their fellow coup mongers have been underneath fireplace. The accusations have been being revealed, in order that they began to threaten Brazil’s democracy. And little by little it was as soon as once more doubtful.”
Condemnation from Bolsonaro
Previous ire towards the Paiva household has notably come from one man: Jair Bolsonaro, the previous military captain who rode a wave of anti-establishment populism to his presidency (2019-2022).
In 2014, then-lawmaker Bolsonaro spat on a statue of the late Paiva in Congress, accusing him and his household of being on the service of communist terrorists. His claims date to the Nineties and falsely hyperlink a farm the Paiva household owned, close to the place Bolsonaro grew up, to a guerrilla group.
“Yearly, he made a speech towards my father, making up tales,” Paiva stated. “As soon as, he stated my father had been killed by his comrades who have been within the armed battle, as a result of he had revealed issues in the course of the torture periods. It was the primary time I heard anybody inform such an absurd story, with no proof, and folks believed it. It was the primary time I noticed the ability of social media in creating a brand new narrative, a lie.”
Bolsonaro stated in an interview Monday he hasn’t seen the movie, however his allies have railed towards it, saying Paiva died in a warfare, as did many on either side. Brazil’s Fact Fee discovered that at the least 434 individuals died by the hands of the army regime, together with 136 who disappeared.
Paiva revealed “I’m Nonetheless Right here” as Alzheimer’s illness washed away his mom’s reminiscence. Director Walter Salles purchased the rights in 2017, however selected to not make the movie throughout Bolsonaro’s presidency. Final week, Brazil’s prosecutor-general indicted Bolsonaro for allegedly staging a coup to stay in energy. It included inciting a riot in capital Brasilia by encouraging his supporters to riot marking an echo of the Capitol rebel within the U.S.
“Individuals in all places are afraid of watching their democracies grow to be dictatorships,” Paiva stated. “This film glorifies democracy and the understanding that human rights, empathy are briefly provide.”
‘Mission achieved’
Including to Paiva’s current achievements because the movie premiered, his father’s demise certificates, first obtained by his mom in 1996, was up to date in January to transcend mere affirmation to incorporate: “violent demise attributable to the Brazilian State within the context of systematic persecution to the inhabitants recognized as dissidents of the insurance policies of the dictatorial regime put in in 1964.”
Brazil’s Supreme Court docket stated earlier this week it’ll rule whether or not the only survivor amongst Rubens Paiva’s torturers, Gen. José Antônio Nogueira Belham, will be tried. Brazilian human rights activists have argued that concealing our bodies is a steady crime not coated by the nation’s amnesty legislation.
“I see literature as a mission, and I really feel mine was achieved,” stated Paiva. “The film’s mission is achieved, even when it doesn’t win any Oscars.”
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Observe AP’s protection of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
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