Director: Walter Salles
Starring: Fernanda Torres, Selton Mello and Fernanda Montenegro
‘A Mesmerizing Masterpiece’
When it comes to countries which often create challenges for people to fulfill, it’s worth talking about Brazil. Brazil has built an image of being a country where citizens experience emotional damage. The country has long held history of catastrophic wars that cause citizens to face tragedies. In a country that has often followed a strict dictatorship, citizens often experience grim hardship. War-torn conflict in the country dates back towards the 1970’s when families were always torn apart by governments which enforced strict authority. During this troubled era, citizens were commonly apprehended for crimes they had not committed which caused trauma. Sadly, not much has changed several years later in a country following a strict social government authority. In a country controlled by a strict government, citizens are rarely ever given opportunities to fulfill their dreams which often require commitment. Today, families that seek a stable home in Brazil often face a price to pay.
Few films I’ve ever seen have captured painful burden families in Brazil bear as powerfully as “I’m Still Here”. Released in 2024, the Oscar-winning latest movie by Walter Salles offered a powerful portrait of families in Brazil. Packed with breathtaking production-design, strong storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the best movies of the year. At the centre of it all is a phenomenal performance by Fernanda Torres, who portrays a Brazilian woman that struggles to cope with a family tragedy in a doomed country. Ultimately, what makes “I’m Still Here” a masterpiece is its strong appeal. Unlike most movies set in Brazil that are often targeted towards citizens of the country, the film tackles relatable themes everyone would identify with. It delivers a profound message about trauma that would definitely resonate with everyone. Despite focusing on Brazilian families during the 1970’s, its themes remain relevant today. A mesmerizing masterpiece about Brazilian families, there are countless reasons why “I’m Still Here” is a film which is worth seeing.
Set in 1970’s Brazil, “I’m Still Here” tells a story of a family that has dreams to fulfill. Fernanda Torres portrays Eunice Paiva, a level-headed Brazilian woman struggling to raise her family. Eunice has always considered her homeland of Brazil to be a peaceful country where she can raise her family. However, Eunice’s peaceful life is shattered when her husband experiences a disaster. Rubens Paiva (Selton Melli) is taken in for questioning by police authorities for a crime he has not committed. In a country where odds are stacked against her favour, Eunice begins to wonder whether it’s possible to reunite with her long lost lover. Faced with a sad dilemma, Fernanda begins to wonder whether she will ever be able to overcome trauma. Mourning a loss of her husband she loved dearly, Eunice questions whether she would ever accomplish goals she is seeking. Questioning her love for her home country of Brazil, Fernanda wonders she will ever achieve happiness her life which has come to a standstill.
Walter Salles has always been fascinated with the lives of Brazilian families. A phenomenal Brazilian filmmaker, Salles has often excelled at making captivating movies about families which face disaster. His Oscar-winning movie “Central Station” captured the lives of families facing tension. With “I’m Still Here”, however, Salles produced his first period piece. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture tense barriers faced by Brazilian families during the 1970’s, but he succeeded tremendously. Using spellbinding cinematography, Salles captures the lives of Brazilian families which are ruined by tragedy. Visually, the movie is a captivating feast for the eyes as stunning as locations in Brazil where Eunice seeks a rise. Salles deftly uses low-key lighting capturing tensions that a Brazilian family is facing. For instance, the low-key lighting elevates the house invasion scene. During this frightening scene, Eunice endures a terrifying dilemma when her house is invaded by armed men with questioning. Through low-key lighting, Salles captures tense hardships Brazilian families go through. Low-key lighting is a tricky technique to use in movies. As David Fincher’s “Se7en” suggested, low-key lighting enhances serial killer movies. Nevertheless, it works well in this movie. Through breathtaking visuals, Salles captures the tensions Brazilian families are facing.
Another admirable aspect of “I’m Still Here” that merits appreciation is the production-design. From a technical perspective, the movie is extremely well-made. Salles deftly uses real-life locations across Brazil that capture the state of a downtrodden city in 1970’s. For instance, the real-life locales elevate the interrogation scene. During this unforgettable scene, Eunice is taken in for questioning at a prison in Brazil which is frightening. One acknowledges real-life Brazilian locations capturing the hardships families are often experiencing. Real-life locales in Brazil are tricky to use in movies. Nevertheless, that work immensely in this movie. Furthermore, the musical score is magnificent. Warren Ellis’ music is key to success of the movie. It gives the movie a tense atmosphere capturing grim burden which Latin-American families bear. Through strong production-design, Salles captures lives of Brazilian families in downtrodden cities that face a decline.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “I’m Still Here” is a captivating film which is compelling. The movie is beautifully written, and effectively uses sequences of silence to capture Brazilian families that face violence. Salles’ screenwriting strength is his ability to capture the impact of genocides on families through silence. For instance, silence elevates the prison scene. During this heartbreaking scene, Fernanda is forced to spend time in prison being questioned about her husband’s involvement in terrorism. Inspired with Frank Darabont’s “The Shawshank Redemption”, Salles effectively uses silence to capture the tensions that Brazilian women accused of a crime they didn’t commit are facing. Through silence, Salles creates a strong portrait of a broken Brazilian family that audiences can easily relate to. Silence is a tricky technique to use in film. As Steven Spielberg’s “Schindler’s List” suggested, silence elevates films about the Holocaust. John Krasinski’s “A Quiet Place” demonstrated silence enhances horror films about silent survival. Neverthelesszc it works extremely well in this movie. Through a superb screenplay, Salles captures Brazilian families facing a price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Fernanda Torres delivers one of her greatest career performances as Eunice. Torres first achieved appreciation for playing romantic heroines in commemorated Brazilian dramas. With “I’m Still Here”, however, she took on her most tough role. Ir isn’t easy to play a Brazilian woman that becomes the victim of frightening genocide in a war-torn country, but Torres succeeded immensely. This is the actress unlike you have ever seen her before: intense, charismatic and emotional in her most memorable role. With captivating expressions, she captures the angst, grief and trauma of a Brazilian woman struggling to raise her family in a downtrodden city. It’s a strong performance from one of the best actresses which is currently working in Brazil today.
While the movie is mainly a stunning showcase for Torres, the supporting cast is also amazing and worthy of appreciations. Selton Mello is spectacular, scourging grief of a father that is torn apart from his family in a tragedy which causes sorrow. Valentina Herszage is superb, capturing the charisma of a teenage girl that seeking to uncover the reasons for her father’s disappearance causing trauma. Lastly, Luiz Bertazzo merits appreciation. As a commemorated security guard working for government, he brings an air of tension to the movie.
Finally, “I’m Still Here” will earn appreciation of everyone for capturing Brazilian families that face despair. Unlike most movies that are set in Brazil, it tackles strong themes everyone will relate to. It discusses stirring themes including Identity, mental health and trauma which will resonate with everyone. Viewers don’t need to be familiar with Brazilian history to appreciate it. It delivers a meaningful message regarding the importance of finding justice which would resonate with everyone. Therefore, “I’m Still Here” is one of those rare commemorated films about Brazil which everyone will surely adore.
Fans of Brazilian Cinema will definitely enjoy “I’m Still Here” and so will movie-goers that seek meaningful entertainment. A riveting masterpiece about Brazil, it showcases the power of stories about families which thrill.
A captivating portrait of frightening hardships that commemorated Brazilian woman seeking to raise families during the 1970’s are facing, it’s a riveting reminder that a country with a complex history of violence that has all-too-often been misunderstood poorly depicted in movies using false stereotypes that aren’t true to reality is definitely without a single doubt worth portraying in memorable movies that are worth seeing.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 