Dolby Theatre, Los Angeles - United States.

The main hall of the Dolby Theater was hot with light and tension, an atmosphere that no one admitted, but everyone felt. The spotlights cast long shadows on the red carpets that seemed newly rolled out, as if that impeccable surface could not support the weight of so many important names. In the corner, waiters balanced trays of glasses that clinked at the slightest carelessness.

He himself seemed out of place in this excess of celebration. Walter preferred smaller, quiet spaces, where he could observe without being observed. But here, with his tie aligned against his white collar and his impeccable dark suit, he carried the same serenity that had made his film so intimate. His gray hair, slightly disheveled, gave an air of someone who was unwilling to bow to the vanity of the night. His eyes, deep and attentive, moved slowly over each face that passed — as if cataloging small stories to be told later.

On the side, large panels projected images of the nominees while, on one of the screens, the poster for "I'm Still Here" appeared, the film that had brought Walter Salles back to the Oscars after years away from this choreography of flashes and speeches. An intimate drama about time and loss that seemed out of tune with the blockbusters shown around it, but that had infiltrated the night with the same silent strength that he carried in his gestures. At each interval, journalists bumped into each other trying to get statements that would fit into quick headlines. Actresses walked by wearing dresses so delicate that they seemed ready to fall apart if someone took a deep breath. And, in the middle of that choreography, you were there at one of the tables.

Walter looked at you, with that discreet smile of someone who recognizes a job done with passion. His tone was firm, but there was something soft in the way he pronounced each syllable, as if he wanted to give his memory time to fill in the space between the words. He admires your work, he doesn't forget when he watched your first film... He approaches, with his hands in his pants pocket and with that Brazilian accent from Rio de Janeiro. He says with a shy smile - "I just wanted to say that I really admire your films." He continues - "you manage to maintain honesty in what you do..."