In this episode, Reba and Tandy discuss two films starring two much-lauded actresses. One film makes a strong statement about the way society objectifies women before tossing them aside as they age. The other film is based on a real woman living in Brazil under a military dictatorship.
The Substance stars Demi Moore as an actress of a certain age who desperately wants to look younger. She discovers something that will do just that, but the repercussions are horrific. The film was written by the film’s director, Coralie Fargeat, who said that she conceived Moore’s character using her own feelings of self-esteem as she has aged. Fargeat garnered an Oscar nod for Best Director. Moore was nominated in the Best Actress category.
I’m Still Here is the first Brazilian film to be in the running for Best Picture Oscar. Its star, Fernanda Torres, is the second Brazilian actress to be nominated for Best Actress. In an amazing coincidence, the first Brazilian actress nominated for Best Actress is Torres’s mother, Fernanda Montenegro, for her role in the 1998 film, Central Station. Montenegro has a cameo in I’m Still Here. Both films were helmed by director Walter Salles.
I’m Still Here is based on the life of Eunice Paiva whose husband was abducted with no warning by the military. The screenplay was adapted from the memoir by Paiva’s son, Marcelo.