Here is the rewritten content: What Is ‘I’m Still Here’ About? The Pairas are a wealthy and respected family living a stone’s throw away from the beac
Here is the rewritten content:
What Is ‘I’m Still Here’ About?
The Pairas are a wealthy and respected family living a stone’s throw away from the beach in a beautiful villa in 1970s Rio. Reuben and Eunice are happily married with five children; Veroca “Vera”, Eliana, Nalu, Marcelo, and Beatriz “Babiu”. They have a doting housemaid, and it seems each member of the family wants nothing. However, as seen in the early scene with Veroca, the looming presence of Brazil’s dictatorial military regime is becoming more pronounced. Veroca is sent to live with her relatives in London, and we’re treated to intimate and tender moments within the family; gatherings, dinners, parties, and beach trips see the friends and family dance, laugh, and enjoy a full and happy existence. Salle is patient with the first act of the movie, taking care to establish just how loved and content the Pairas are. This is what makes the core event of the film so gut-wrenching.
Reuben is taken away by officers for questioning, and several men refuse to leave the house, watching every member’s movements, and listening to their calls. Eunice and Eliana are taken in for questioning, and while the military remains evasive, it’s clear they suspect Reuben, a former congressman, to be an enemy of the state.
What follows is a tale of psychological torture for Eunice, who must raise four children and withstand days in prison herself with no answers as to her husband’s whereabouts. It then becomes a journey for justice, as Eunice fights to have their story told, and the injustice for Rueben’s treatment to be recognized and corrected. Based on the real-life story of Reuben Paiva, I’m Still Here takes a political and human rights story and imbues it with the very human themes of family, grief, survival, and above all, hope in the face of debilitating tragedy.
Few films will move you like I’m Still Here will. It’s a near-perfect movie. What prevents it from being without faults is that Salle is so razor-focused on trying to maintain a positive spirit that the bigger implications of the family’s suffering can feel too fleeting. It can feel like the family’s grief is not fully investigated or unpacked because Salle is somewhat too scared to fully acknowledge it. Still, it is merely one complaint within a shower of compliments. Like Steve McQueen’s Blitz, it’s a microcosm of humanity and family during a time of tragedy and turmoil. But it goes way beyond the WWII film by presenting a family unit that feels like it could save the world. And in a sense, that’s exactly what happens.
Fernanda Torres gives a groundbreaking performance, carrying the heavy weight of the story on her shoulders throughout. The direction and script pair perfectly together, crafting an intimate and tender family story within against huge historical context. The movie celebrates the very primal idea that family and love can heal all wounds.
The more serious and urgent moments can get lost, and the movie fails to fully reckon with the family’s grief.
I’m Still Here screened at this year’s BFI London Film Festival.
FAQs:
- What is the release date of I’m Still Here?
October 9, 2024 - Who is in the cast of I’m Still Here?
Fernanda Torres, Fernanda Montenegro, Selton Mello, Valentina Herszage, Maeve Jinkings, Dan Stulbach, Humberto Carrão, Carla Ribas, Maitê Padilha, Guilherme Silveira, Cora Ramalho, Bárbara Luz, Daniel Pereira - What is the runtime of I’m Still Here?
137 minutes - What is the main genre of I’m Still Here?
Drama
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