I'm Still Here is a beautifully poignant portrayal of a family in the heart of a ruptured nation. Director Walter Salles returns to his hometown of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil to tell the story of Eunice Paiva after the disappearance of her husband by the Brazilian dictatorship.
The screenplay is by Murilo Hauser and Heitor Lorega and is based on the 2015 memoir of the same name from Marcelo Rubens Paiva, Eunice's son.
In Christmas of 1970, Rubens Paiva (Selton Mello), a former congressman who was in self-exile for six years following the 1964 Brazilian coup d'état, is living with his wife Eunice (Fernanda Torres) and their five children. Now working as a civil engineer, Rubens is detained by the Brazilian government, with his wife left to pick up the pieces.
Fernanda Torres has been getting a lot of awards buzz this year, including a win at the Golden Globes, and every bit of it is deserved.
Torres is absolutely captivating as Eunice in what is a very subtle and restrained performance. Eunice is a woman who is steeled by the disappearance of her husband and Torres plays her with a quiet strength. The moments Eunice does let down her guard are also well played by Torres and because of her restraint throughout most of the film, those moments hit even harder. This is sort of a coming-out party for her in North America. While she has a well-established career in Brazil, her Golden Globe win and Oscar nomination are making sure more eyes are on her.
While Torres is getting the bulk of the attention, the supporting cast is also excellent. Selton Mello as Rubens, in the limited screen time he has, is full of warmth as he really makes the audience sympathize with the family after his disappearance because at that point, you had fallen in love with him as well.
All five kids are great -- with the standouts being Valentina Herszage as the eldest daughter Veroca and Luiza Kosovski as the second daughter Eliana. Herszage brings great energy to the role of Veroca, who leaves Rio to live in London with family friends. In her absence you can't help but miss her, but recognize that her staying in London may be the safest option. Kosovski's Eliana, without her father and sister, is thrust into the role of being the rock of the family. With her mother preoccupied, she bears a lot of the responsibility at home. She shares some great scenes with Torres and more than holds her own.
The film is also wonderfully shot. Salles and his Director of Photography Adrian Teijido put you on the streets of Rio and show the city at its best and worst. The film starts off, like many films set in Rio -- on the beach. People swimming in the ocean, playing soccer and volleyball. When we first enter the Paiva home, it is full of life, dancing and music; everything feels vibrant and alive. It's a great contrast to when the film changes and you realize the dangers of living in Rio during this time period.
Salles' background in documentaries really comes through in the film. In addition to the use of natural lighting, the film shoots some scenes from the perspective of Veroca's camera as she is filming home movies. It is the combination of grounded filmmaking with the incredibly natural performances that gives the feeling that you are watching a documentary.
I'm Still Here explores the themes of family and authoritarianism and the impact the latter can have on the former. We see the devastating impact dictatorships have on cities and countries and the scars they leave, both physically and emotionally, that victims must carry with them. It also shows the strength of one woman and her family and how important family is in getting through the darkness. While it is a period piece, the themes and messages are still very much applicable today.
I'm Still Here is playing in select cities and expands into more theaters Friday, January 31, 2025. ~Ryan Donahue
5 out of 5 stars.
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A real tragic history told with no melodrama. A story in which you feel you could be part of that family. A strong yet resilient woman who never give up for her own children and the country