Jennifer Lopez shared an emotional moment during a recent episode of Brett Goldstein’s podcast, “Films to Be Buried With.” The actress and singer discussed her most influential films, recounting her poignant experience of watching the 2024 Brazilian film “I’m Still Here” with her father, David Lopez, while navigating personal challenges, including her recent divorce from Ben Affleck.
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The episode, which aired on June 10, featured Lopez reflecting on various films throughout her life that have shaped her perspective. When asked by Goldstein which film had a significant impact on her, Lopez immediately mentioned “I’m Still Here,” a biographical tale directed by Walter Salles. The film narrates the true story of Eunice Paiva, portrayed by Fernanda Torres, whose husband, a dissident politician, went missing during Brazil’s military dictatorship from 1964 to 1985.
Lopez’s emotional recollection revealed that the film had a profound effect on her during a challenging period when she was recovering from an illness and dealing with her impending divorce. “A couple of years ago, I was quite ill around Christmas time,” recounted the 56-year-old star. “My family was visiting, and I think my dad agreed to watch the film because I was unwell.”
Reflecting on her life at that moment, Lopez explained that her contemplation included thoughts about her children and her relationship with her father. It was during the film’s portrayal of Eunice’s tireless search for her husband that the emotional weight of her own experiences struck her. “This woman spends her whole life trying to prove that her husband really didn’t just disappear,” Lopez noted, her voice breaking. “I started calculating everything—my experiences with my dad, and everything just hit me all at once.”
The heartfelt exchange took a tender turn when Lopez’s father noticed her tears. She recalled trying to conceal her feelings, but the intensity of the moment overwhelmed her. “He turned around and saw my face,” she explained. “I was trying to cry quietly, but tears were just flowing down.” Her father then reached out to her, saying, “I love you. I always loved you,” a moment that Lopez described as life-changing.
The experience of watching the film with her family ultimately proved cathartic for Lopez. She remarked, “That moment healed a part of me that needed it to move on from that chapter of my life and those kinds of relationships.” For her, “I’m Still Here” wasn’t just a film; it represented a pivotal moment of realisation and growth.
In a lighter moment during the podcast episode, Lopez playfully encouraged Goldstein to share in her emotional experience. “Are you going to cry too?” she teased, suggesting that vulnerability can be a shared experience. “Cry with me! Why are you leaving me all alone?”
Throughout the podcast, Lopez also discussed other films that have left a mark on her, including classics like “West Side Story,” “Flashdance,” “9½ Weeks,” “True Romance,” “The Notebook,” and “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story.” Each film, according to her, carries its own significance and memory, contributing to her development both as an artist and a person.
Lopez and Goldstein appear together in the romantic comedy “Office Romance,” which is now streaming on Netflix. The film, co-written by Goldstein and Joe Kelly and directed by Ol Parker, explores themes of love and companionship, further adding context to their conversation about impactful storytelling.
As episodes of “Films to Be Buried With” are released weekly, Lopez’s emotional revelations serve as a reminder of the connections between personal experiences and the narratives we consume, highlighting how films can resonate on a deeply personal level.