Walter Salles’ “I’m Still Here” paints a tender yet heart-wrenching portrait of a family caught in the turmoil of Brazil’s military dictatorship.
Set in 1970s Rio de Janeiro, the film introduces audiences to the Paiva family—Eunice (Fernanda Torres), Rubens (Selton Mello), and their five children—through a lens of warmth and domestic bliss. Their lives, filled with sand-covered adventures and carefree moments, feel both intimate and universally relatable.
But this tranquility is short-lived. Against the backdrop of the oppressive regime, ominous signs begin to emerge—ambassadors kidnapped, random police stops, and whispers of left-leaning citizens making plans to flee. The family’s precarious stability is shattered when three plainclothes men arrive unannounced, demanding Rubens, a former congressman, come in for questioning.
While the Paivas are cautious, Eunice and the children hold on to a fragile hope for his return. Rubens’ calm demeanor as he prepares to leave—changing into a collared shirt and tie, lying to his daughter about going to the office—is bittersweet, hinting at his awareness that he may never come back.
A Story of Resilience and Generational Trauma
“I’m Still Here” is not a film about Rubens’ abduction or the horrors he might have endured. Instead, it focuses on the aftermath—how Eunice and her children navigate life through uncertainty, absence, and loss.
Adapted from the memoir of Rubens’ son, Marcelo, the film is imbued with a personal, almost wistful tenderness. It captures the fleeting beauty of everyday moments, which we often fail to appreciate until they’re gone.
Fernanda Torres delivers an extraordinary performance as Eunice, a role that earned her a Golden Globe. Eunice’s strength and resilience, portrayed with emotional depth and practical intelligence, anchor the film. Whether she’s dealing with a misogynistic banker or confronting the men surveilling her home, Eunice emerges as a quietly powerful figure.
In a poignant scene, a journalist photographs Eunice and her children, hoping to document their story. When asked to look somber for the camera, Eunice laughs and instructs her children to keep smiling. “They want us to look sad,” she quips. This moment perfectly encapsulates the film’s complex tone—balancing grief with the enduring spirit of survival.
A Straightforward but Profound Narrative
Director Walter Salles opts for a straightforward approach to storytelling, allowing the compelling narrative and the stellar performances to shine. The film subtly highlights the generational trauma caused by political disappearances, showing how these events reverberate far beyond the victims and into the lives of those left behind.
Release Details and Final Thoughts
“I’m Still Here,” a Sony Pictures Classics release, opens in limited theaters on Friday, with a wider release on January 24. Rated PG-13 for “smoking, drug use, brief nudity, strong language, and thematic content,” the film runs 135 minutes.
While the story is personal and nostalgic, it carries a universal resonance, reminding us of the resilience of families in the face of historical turmoil.
Rating: 3 out of 4 stars.
