Chapter 18 – Brazil Explodes in Celebration
Brazil had never seen anything like it.
The early hours of March 2 to 3, 2025 were historic.
The entire country stopped to watch the Oscars, but no one was prepared for what happened.
First, Walter Salles won the first Oscar in Brazil's history for "I'm Still Here" in the category of Best International Film.
Then, Gustavo Salles made history by becoming the youngest actor to win the award for Best Supporting Actor.
Two Oscars.
Brazil exploded.
As soon as Gustavo left the stage, the streets of Brazil were already filled with people.
In the bars, in the squares, on the beaches, it was as if the country had won a World Cup.
In Rio de Janeiro, fireworks lit up the sky.
In São Paulo, the avenues were packed with cars honking their horns, with people shouting out the windows.
In Salvador, in Pelourinho, bands began to play spontaneously, and crowds sang, jumped, and celebrated.
Brazil did not sleep.
On social media, chaos.
#BrazilAtTheOscars
#GustavoMadeHistory
#TwoOscarsForBrazil
#NaçãoPremiada
Twitter was congested with the amount of messages.
— THIS IS NOT AN OSCAR ANYMORE, IT IS A CARNIVAL!!!
— FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, SOMEONE MAKE SURE CHRIST THE REDEEMER DOESN'T HAVE A BANNER THAT SAYS "GUSTAVO I LOVE YOU"!
— TWO OSCARS FOR BRAZIL! THIS IS NOT A DREAM, IT IS REALITY!!!
On Instagram, the photo that Gustavo took on the Oscar stage broke records for likes.
On TV, all channels stopped their programming to talk about the feat.
On Fantástico, the presenters couldn't hide their emotion.
— Brazil, we made history!
On Jornal Nacional, the headline was clear and direct:
"BRAZIL MAKES HISTORY AT THE OSCARS: TWO AWARDS IN ONE UNFORGETTABLE NIGHT."
At the Salles' house in Rio de Janeiro, Gustavo's family was in absolute shock.
His mother, Dona Lúcia, was crying and laughing at the same time.
— My son won an Oscar! I can't believe it!
His childhood friends had invaded the house and were screaming, jumping on the couch, setting off fireworks on the balcony.
The phone wouldn't stop ringing.
— Gustavo has to come to Brazil NOW! We have to make a float just for him!
Backstage at the Oscars, Gustavo was still in shock.
With the Oscar in hand, he was surrounded by journalists from all over the world.
— Gustavo, how are you feeling?
He laughed, still trying to process everything.
— I still think someone is going to wake me up and say it was a dream.
The reporter from Fantástico held the microphone with a smile.
— Gustavo, do you realize that the whole of Brazil is celebrating as if it were the World Cup?
His eyes widened.
— Seriously?!
— The streets are crowded, there were fireworks, even a carnival block took to the streets to celebrate their Oscars!
He laughed out loud, shaking his head.
— My God… Brazil, I love you!
He then raised the statuette to the camera.
— This is OURS!
The audience around him applauded.
In the middle of the interviews, Gustavo's advisor handed him his cell phone.
— Gustavo, it's the President of the Republic. He wants to talk to you.
Gustavo's eyes widened.
— WHAT?!
He picked up the phone, a little embarrassed.
— Hello?
The president's voice sounded on the other end of the line.
— Gustavo, my dear, congratulations! You and Walter made history!
Gustavo didn't know what to say.
— Wow... thank you very much, president. This all still seems like a dream to me.
— Well, believe me, because it's real! When you return to Brazil, we want to honor you at the Planalto Palace.
Gustavo swallowed hard.
— My God... I just wanted to make a movie, and now they're asking me to go to the Planalto Palace?!
The president laughed.
— You're not just an actor anymore, Gustavo. You're a symbol of Brazil now.
Gustavo was silent for a moment.
Then he smiled.
— Well, then I'll have to take Oscar for a walk in Brazil, right?
The president laughed.
— Of course! The whole of Brazil wants to celebrate with you!
That night, Brazil proved to the world that its cinema was huge.
And Gustavo Salles, a 19-year-old, became a name that no one would ever forget.
Two Oscars for Brazil.
And that was just the beginning.
Chapter 19 – The After Party
The Oscar after-party was a spectacle in itself.
If the ceremony had been grand, the Vanity Fair After Party was where Hollywood really let loose.
This was where winners celebrated, new contacts were made, and the champagne flowed nonstop.
Gustavo was still clutching his Oscar, as if he was afraid it would disappear.
He couldn't stop smiling.
He was an Oscar winner.
And now, he was surrounded by some of the most famous people in the world.
Near the bar, Gustavo was chatting with Timothée Chalamet and his girlfriend, Kylie Jenner.
He had gotten along well with Timothée during the Oscar events, but now the three of them were chatting like old friends.
Kylie, holding a glass of champagne, smiled at Gustavo.
"So, how does it feel to be the youngest actor to win an Oscar?"
Gustavo laughed, shaking his head.
"I feel old. The beard helps, but I still can't believe this is happening."
Timothée smiled.
"Man, you made history. I told you before that you had something special. Now the whole world has seen it."
Gustavo thanked him, still processing everything.
Kylie leaned toward him, curious.
"Are you moving to Los Angeles now? Because after tonight, Hollywood won't let you leave anytime soon."
He thought for a moment.
"Look, I love Brazil, but… I think I'll have to split my time between the two."
Timothée nodded.
"I knew this was going to happen. Everyone wants to work with you now."
Gustavo took a sip of his drink.
"Well, I hope my phone doesn't explode."
The three of them laughed.
Before Gustavo could continue, Kendall Jenner and Kim Kardashian approached.
Kylie smiled at her sisters. "Girls, this is Gustavo. The Brazilian who just won an Oscar."
Kendall smiled and extended her hand. "We know! Congratulations! I saw your movie and I thought it was amazing."
Kim also greeted him. "You were amazing. And your speech? Historic."
Gustavo laughed. "Oh, thank you! I just wanted to have some fun on stage."
Kylie laughed. "You made history and still managed to make everyone laugh. That's a rare talent."
Kim looked at Gustavo with an analytical look. "Are you really only 19?"
Gustavo laughed and ran his hand over his beard. "Yes! But beards can be deceiving, right?"
Everyone laughed.
The conversation continued lightly, and Gustavo realized how surreal it was to be surrounded by these people that, until recently, he had only seen on the internet.
But he was no longer just a fan.
He was on the same level as them now.
After a while, Gustavo moved away from the group to get another drink.
That was when he ran into someone familiar.
Bruna Marquezine.
She was stunning, wearing an elegant dress, and when she saw Gustavo, she smiled broadly.
"My God, look who's the newest Oscar winner!"
Gustavo laughed and hugged her.
"Bruna! It's so good to see you here!"
She held his shoulders and studied him.
"Gustavo, do you realize what you just did? You made history!"
He smiled.
"I'm still processing it."
Bruna held his hand for a moment.
"Brazil is so proud of you. You deserve all of this." His heart warmed with those words.
— Thank you, Bruna. That means a lot to me.
They talked for a while, remembering how much the Brazilian industry had fought to get there.
After a few minutes of walking around the party, Gustavo found himself in front of another movie legend.
Cillian Murphy.
Gustavo had always been a fan of Peaky Blinders, so seeing Cillian there, with his intense gaze and impeccable posture, was one of those moments when it just didn't sink in.
Cillian looked at him and smiled slightly.
— Gustavo. Congratulations. You were brilliant.
Gustavo swallowed hard before answering.
— Cillian… I'm a big fan of yours. Peaky Blinders is one of my favorite series.
Cillian laughed.
— Thank you. But today, the star here is you.
They talked for a while, and Gustavo realized how calm and observant Cillian was.
— You have a strong presence on screen, Gustavo. You can't teach that. You just have it.
Gustavo was speechless for a moment.
Then he smiled.
"I heard that from Cillian Murphy. Now my life is complete."
Cillian laughed, shaking his head.
That night was unbelievable.
He talked to movie legends, made new friends and realized something important.
He really belonged in that world now.
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