Amara 's first feature film and best known work , '' A Hora da Estrela '' ( Hour of the Star ) was released in 1985 . Based on the novel of the same name by Clarice Lispector , the film focuses on the life of a troubled young protagonist , Macabéa ( Marcélia Cartaxo ) , living in São Paulo . According to film critic Nissa Torrents , " the film upsets many stereotypes in its presentation of the female protagonist , who is neither beautiful nor middle-class . An anti-heroine , starved of affection and respect , she wanders through life looking for an image she can adopt and adapt . " The film was well received at its release and was a Submission to the 59th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film . Additionally , it was entered into the 36th Berlin International Film Festival , where actress Marcelia Cartaxo won the Silver Bear for Best Actress . At the 1985 Brasilia Film Festival the film won best picture and Amaral won best director . Additionally , the film also won best picture at the 1986 Havana Film Festival . Amaral was chosen as best director at the 1986 International Woman ’s Film Festival . '' A Hora da Estrela '' was shot in four weeks on a budget of $ 150,000 , 70 % of which was funded by Embrafilme . The success of '' A Hora da Estrela '' led Amaral to immediate notoriety , though none of her other films have achieved such success
36th Berlin International Film Festival
36th Berlin International Film Festival
Suzana Amaral