The action begins in 1971, when a military dictatorship continues in Brazil. Eunice, Rubens and their children are a classic middle class. On the one hand, we observe the home life of the Paiva family, full of tension and misunderstandings, on the other – We feel the burden of anxiety that accompanies society under the military regime.
The happy life of a family, living in a villa at the beach in the sunny Rio de Janeiro, will go in ruins one day. The head of the Rubens engineer family was deputy, is called to interrogate by investigators. In Brazil, the military junta has been governing for several years, and all citizens opposing power are in the crosshairs. The man is arrested and never returns. And then Anna Paiva takes over the action (played Brilliant Fernanda Torres), mother and wife who tries to find her husband at the beginning, then keep five children in the face of a complicated situation to Finally fight for the truth.
The director focuses on the psychological portrait of the heroine, showing her internal struggle and an attempt to find herself in politically difficult times.
See the trailer of the movie “I’m Still here”!
Because dramatic, The painful story is above all a film record of a woman’s drama. Just like in “Aida” Jasmili Žbanić, here too The woman takes over the reins and in a key moment fights for the good of the family. Eunice discovers who she is, not only as a woman, but also a mother. Because the mother cannot sit, cry and break her hands, Mother must act. Among the many moving scenes stands out when Eunice takes children to ice cream, trying to maintain normality, despite the enormity of their pain. In this sense, “I’m Still Here” is also a film about the strength of motherhood. What’s more, that’s too A moving story about how we work mourning after losing a loved one.
This movie would not be without the brilliant Fernanda Torres, playing the main role. This is one of the most famous South American actresses and The first Brazilian who received the award for the best actress at the Cannes Film Festival – For the role in the film “Love me always or not at all” (1986).
She played a figure full of internal contradictions, on the one hand strong and full of sacrifice, and on the other, lost in a world that is more and more depriving her of a sense of control. Her heroine is not clear – it A woman who fights for family and own valuesand at the same time struggles with a sense of powerlessness in the face of huge social and political problems.
Torres can subtly reflect these emotions – from the moment of inner fight to moments of gentleness and tenderness in relationships with loved ones. Interestingly, in the film in the final scene, the mother of Fernanda Torres appears as a mature Eunice, 95-year-old actress Fernanda Montenegro. A symbolic meeting of two actresses and generations. The creation of Fernanda Torres was appreciated this year by rewarding her with the Golden Globe. Alone The film received three Oscar nominations, including the best actress and film.
“I’m Still here” is based on the biographical book by Marcelo Paivy, the son of Paiva’s marriage. By telling this story, the director tries to reconstruct the important and unknown, part of Brazilian history for many years. Walter Salles testifying those events reminds that It is worth fighting for justice and dignity.
7/10
“I’m still here” (Ainda Estou Aqui), dir. Walter Salles, France, Brazil 2020, distributor: UIP, cinema premiere: February 28, 2024.