I’m Still Here, based on Marcelo Rubens Paiva’s memoir, was quietly engrossing and superbly acted. Torres, as the wife Eunice who wouldn’t give up her search for her “disappeared” husband Rubens (Mello), a local congressman and architect, was superb. Source: Australian Catholics.
The film starts in the 1970s with idyllic and grainy shots of the middle-class Rio de Janeiro family on the beach, playing volleyball, laughing, teasing each other, involved in the general shenanigans and normality of family life. Friends come and go easily in a home that is warm and open. There is exuberance and joy in scenes of laughter, dancing to popular local music and eating. There appears to be no clouds on the horizon, except the early ugly scene where their eldest daughter Vera (Herszage) and friends are stopped in their car and treated aggressively by local soldiers.
The main theme of the film is how Eunice strives to keep the family united and doing normal things while unsure of her husband’s whereabouts. Thugs turn up at the Paivas’ home one evening and insist Rubens go with them. He maintains his normal demeanour and kisses his wife as if he is going off to work. He is never seen again. The film tells of her quest to find out how he died and to show that he was killed by military apparatchiks. This film fleshes out the true story of one family who suffered under the military dictatorship which was exercised in Brazil between 1964 and 1985. It is a cautionary tale suggesting that democracy is a fragile thing. We see hints and whispers of careful defiance as friends realise that the military dictatorship uses torture and death as tools of their oppressive and dehumanising trade.
Ultimately, it is Torres’ performance that steals the show. She animates the real Eunice and is elegant, amusing, warm. She is also quietly gutsy as we see when she is incarcerated for 12 days. She has a dignity that will not be bowed. She holds it together for the sake of her family and her belief in justice.
Fernanda Torres was nominated for the best actress Academy Award (the Oscar went to Mikey Madison, for Anora). Her performance in this film is riveting, truly exemplifying Eunice Paiva’s determined grace under pressure.
Review by Ann Rennie, Jesuit Media.
I’m Still Here. Cast: Fernanda Torres, Selton Mello, Valentina Herszage, Maria Manoella, Barbara Luz, Fernanda Montenegro. Directed by Walter Salles. Running time: 2hours 15 mins. Rating: M (mature themes). Portuguese with English subtitles
FULL REVIEW
I’m Still Here (Australian Catholics)
