Film Review: 'I'm Still Here'
My heart broke a thousand times while watching ‘I’m Still Here.’ Based on the devastating true story of the family of former Congressman Rubens Paiva, the film follows the Paivas as they attempt to lead happy lives despite the brutal military dictatorship in Brazil. Initially the family is able to believe they won’t be affected by the change in government, but the signs are there. The oldest daughter and her friends are briefly detained during a car ride home, armed soldiers and tanks are on the streets and family friends uproot to London after deciding it’s become too dangerous.
Despite these warnings, the Paivas continue with plans to build their dream home. Their son brings home a scrappy dog from the beach and after some pleading with his dad, is allowed to keep him. The first third of the film is light and idyllic. We get the sun and the sand and the beach of Rio. Eunice Paiva swimming is an image that starts the film and serves as a throughline throughout the movie.
With five kids the Paivas house is always buzzing with activity. The parents are also social. When they decided to send their eldest daughter to London with their fleeing friends, the going away party is an event for all ages. When she sends a letter home she includes film from her journey. The family gathers together to watch as the budding director paints a picture of her new life away, where she frequents Abbey Road, made famous by the Beatles. In London, media isn’t shying away from coverage of the political unrest at home. The biggest drama the Paivas seem to observe is the kidnapping of a Swiss ambassador. The men holding him are asking for 70 political prisoners to be freed in exchange for his safe release. This terror seems so distant from their experience, but strange phone calls are a harbinger of what’s to come. Then one day a knock on the door changes everything.
The film won Fernanda Torres a Golden Globe for her performance as Eunice Paiva, and for good reason. In total embodiment of the role, she begins as a lighthearted, easygoing woman. But her transformation is swift. She has an experience that forever changes her, and the family is changed too, but throughout it all, Eunice is steadfast in her commitment as a mother to protect her children. The honor of that duty eventually extends further to ensure that the truth of what’s happened to her husband and family can never be denied. That truth is also part of the beauty of the film, as devastating as it might be. I haven’t cried like this since watching Nickel Boys but much in the same way this is a movie I want everyone to see. While so many years might have passed since the events of the film, it serves as a reminder that freedom from state sanctioned abuse is a true luxury in many parts of the world.
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