I’m Still Here

I’m Still Here is based on a true story and the autobiography Ainda Estou Aqui written by Marcelo Paiva. He shares what his family endured during the Brazilian military dictatorship in the early seventies. His father, former congressman Rubens Paiva (Selton Mello) disappears leaving his mother Eunice (Fernanda Torres) to wonder what happened to him while remaining strong for their five children.

There is so much palatable tension throughout the film and it starts right at the beginning. Not knowing the whole story, I keep bracing for what is going to happen next. The narrative is all about the strength of Eunice and the mental sacrifices she makes over and over again to ensure her children come through on the other side. She moved me to tears more than once.

Fernanda Torres is extraordinary as Eunice, cultivating a steady resilience even when everything is uncertain. Somehow she still knows what she has to do in order to serve her family. It’s heart wrenching to see the toll it takes on her while she pushes through the many obstacles in her quest for justice.

The children illustrate an emotional maturity that can be credited to their mother. The familial bond stretches throughout their friends and community, further strengthening their resolve. The ending is powerful, doubling down on the force of motherhood. An aging Eunice is quietly played by Fernanda Torres’ real life mother, actress Fernanda Montenegro.

I didn’t know this happened. And it’s really scary to think a government’s military can do this. While I don’t think this will win Best Picture, I think it’s got a good chance for Best International Feature. I think it’s a film worth seeing both for its subject matter and its delivery. And of course, Fernanda Torres, because just wow.