Writer/Director: Walter Salles
Starring: Fernanda Torres, Selton Mello and Fernanda Montenegro
‘A Meaningful Masterpiece’
Few countries pose challenges for families to fulfill like Brazil. Brazil has created an image of being a strict country where citizens often face damage. On a personal level, I find struggles faced by Brazilian immigrants to be relatable. Several years ago, I witnessed a Brazilian housemaid face sorrow. A person my family came to adore, she always poured her soul into every chore. Born in Brazil, she told stories about uphill battles her family faced in a country where dreams were difficult to fulfill. Raised in a Latin-American land, she told tales about a country where her family couldn’t take a stand. She would gain my family’s sympathy when she told stories of how her father was taken away by police authorities for reasons she couldn’t explain. I formed a strong relationship with a housemaid whose family faced grim dictatorship hardship. Like Eunice Pavia, her dream was to escape the trauma of her country by migrating to America. In the hopes of achieving her dream, my housekeeper set off on a journey to become married in America. Seeking to settle down, she got married to a Brazilian man. However, murders destroyed her dreams forever. Stabbed to death by her lover, she became victim of a murder. Shocked beyond belief, my family struggled to face the sad loss of a housemaid causing grief. My family mourned the sad absence of a promising young woman killed in violence. Looking back in reflection, Brazil reminds me of a housemaid I had regarded with affection. Years later, the country reminds me of a great housekeeper which changed my life forever.
Few films I’ve seen have captured Brazilian families as powerfully as “I’m Still Here”. Released in 2024, Walter Salles’ movie honoured Brazil’s history. Packed with bold set-design, engaging storytelling and strong acting, it’s a masterpiece. At the centre of it all is Fernanda Torres, who portrays a woman facing tragedy. Ultimately, what makes “I’m Still a Here” a masterpiece is its appeal. Unlike most Brazil films, it tackles themes everyone would relate to. A mesmerizing work of art, there are reasons why “I’m Still Here” 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 Brazilian woman struggling to raise her family. Eunice has always considered her homeland of Brazil to be a peaceful country. However, Eunice’s peaceful life is shattered when her husband faces a disaster. Rubens Paiva (Selton Melli) is taken in for questioning by police for a crime he hasn’t committed. Questioning her love for Brazil, Fernanda wonders she will achieve happiness in life that comes to a standstill.
Walter Salles has always been fascinated with the lives of Brazilian families. A bold Brazilian filmmaker, Salles has often excelled at making great movies about families which face disaster. His Oscar-winning movie “Central Station” captured the lives of Brazilian teachers facing tension. With “I’m Still Here”, however, Salles produced his first Brazilian period piece. It was the director’s first attempt to capture tense barriers faced by broken Brazilian families in the 1970’s, but he succeeded. Using spellbinding cinematography, Salles captures a Brazilian woman seeking to survive in a war-torn country. Evoking Alfonso Cauron’s “Roma”, Salles uses low-key lighting capturing bonds of a Brazilian family. For instance, the low-key lighting elevates the family party scene. During this joyous scene, Eunice spends time with her family having a joyful party. It brought back memories of my bond with a Brazilian maid that embraced her identity. Low-key lighting is a tricky technique. As David Fincher’s “Se7en” proved, low-key lighting enhances serial killer movies. However, it works well in this movie. Through stunning 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. It reminded me of my housekeeper that often recounted stories of being separated from her fathe2r that left her devastated. 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, they work 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 families bear. Through strong production-design, Salles captures lives of Brazilian families in 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 silence to capture Brazilian families that face violence. 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. It reminded me of my silence when my housemaid was murdered leaving my family emotionally devastated. Silence is a tricky technique. 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 survival. Neverthelesszc it works well in this movie. Through a superb screenplay, Salles captures Brazilian families facing a price to pay.
One appreciates astonishing performances.
Fernanda Torres delivers one of her greatest career performances as Eunice. Torres first gained appreciation for playing strong women in Brazilian dramas. With “I’m Still Here”, however, she took on her most complex role. It isn’t easy to portray a Brazilian woman whose family is affected by tragedy, but Torres succeeded tremendously. This is the actress unlike you have ever seen her before: intense, charismatic and emotional in her most memorable role. With riveting expressions, she captures the angst, desperation and resentments of a Brazilian woman struggling to survive harsh conditions of her country. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the most commemorated Brazilian actresses currently working today.
While the film is mainly a stunning showcase for Torres, the supporting cast is also sensational and merits appreciation. Selton Mello is spectacular, capturing 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 families that face despair. Unlike most movies set in Brazil, it tackles themes everyone will relate to. It discusses stirring themes including Identity, mental health and trauma. It delivers a meaningful message about genocide which would resonate with everyone. Viewers aren’t required to be familiar with the history of Brazil to appreciate it. 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.
As strong as Eunice’s desires to find justice in Brazil, it has motivated me to move on several years after the devastating death of a beloved Brazilian housekeeper facing uphill battles in a country where people would kill by treasuring an inspirational person that took care of my family with skill giving me big dreams to fulfill.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 