Aún estoy aquí

I'M STILL HERE (2024) Walter Salles' gripping I'M STILL HERE takes on the true story of persecuted journalist Rubens Paiva. It's personal with Salles as he was a childhood friend of the family. Brazil. 1971. The country is run by a brutal dictatorship. Paiva (Selton Mello) is an engineer and ex-congressman from the opposition party. His family tries to live as normal a life as possible, until he's seized by authorities.

Salles and his writers Murilo Hauser and Heitor Lorenga base their script on the memoir of Paiva's son Marcello. It's very well balanced between family and politics. Right from the start we see his oldest daughter Veroca (Valentina Herszage) out with friends on a typical fun night when suddenly, they are pulled over and roughed up by military police looking for radical 'hippies'. There is an atmosphere of kidnapping and danger in the air. Veroca is sent overseas for her protection.

Once Paiva is captured, the emphasis turns to his wife Eunice, brilliantly played by Fernanda Torres. She battles not only to find and get her husband released, but is the rock that keeps the family together. It's a strong drama which Salles and his team make both palpable and universal beyond Brazil's borders. It remains timely as its warnings about oppression sadly remain potent today. Shooting on 35mm, Adrian Teijido gives it a gritty, but organic look. Warren Ellis' score is quite fine. Salles (THE MOTORCYLE DIARIES, ON THE ROAD) has a real feel for the material. The epilogue is a bit elongated even if it imparts some closure and a chance to see Fernanda Montenegro once again (Oscar nominee for Salles' excellent CENTRAL STATION - and, the mother of of Fernanda Torres).

I'M STILL HERE is a superb effort from Salles, and Rubens Paiva's story is worth telling.

Brazilian film with the greatest international repercussion in recent years, winner of the best screenplay award at the Venice Film Festival and nominated for an Oscar, I'm Still Here dramatizes the trajectory of the Paiva family between the arrest of Rubens Paiva, the father, and Eunice's struggle after her husband's disappearance. Walter Salles immerses the viewer in the intimacy of this family and makes them an accomplice, making them care about the fate of each one, creating three-dimensional, real, believable characters. Fernanda Torres plays the role of her life, almost a Greek heroine marked by tragedy, with subtlety, without ever falling into excess or caricature. Detailed scenography, lean script, natural interpretations, hand-picked soundtrack, precise editing, everything contributes to the director being able to convey exactly what he set out to do. As I knew the story, I had read the book on which the film is based, in addition to reports about it, my attention focused on the cinematographic solutions used by the director. He manages to turn this particular story into something universal, capable of communicating with audiences anywhere in the world.

Adapted from the novel by Marcelo Rubens Paiva, "I'm Still Here" actually improves on the book by focusing on the Paiva family and how every member was startled and heartbroken by the disappearance of their father (played with deep affection by Selton Mello). Anchored by a powerhouse performance by Fernanda Torres as the matriarch Eunice, the film narrates the horrors of the Brazilian dictatorship without ever being preachy or heavy-handed. By focusing on the human aspects and the sense of loss of those people who never got and answer about their loved one's disappearance, the script gets more powerful as it goes along. All the performances from the young actors are top-notch - a rare feat in Brazilian cinema - but it is Fernanda Torres incredibly restrained performance that really stays with you. She's persuasive and moving without ever being melodramatic, in a masterful work. This is the best Brazilian film in years, a gift from director Walter Salles ("Central Station"). Pay attention to the brief but powerful cameo by Fernanda Montenegro (an Oscar nominee for "Central Station") at the very end. "I'm Still Here" is a movie to cherish and to hold.

"I'm Still Here" is a powerful portrayal of a moment in Brazilian history that traumatized many people. In a well-constructed atmosphere, the viewer enters the past of a country, a past that is disowned and ignored by the country itself, and this makes the experience of watching "I'm Still Here" in a movie theater in Brazil even more powerful. Of all the Brazilian filmmakers, Walter Salles stands out with his talented direction and interesting photography, and the production is truly impressive. The actors are talented and I want to highlight the younger actors, who certainly give the film a touch of depth and beauty necessary for us to feel the "magic of cinema". Regarding the kind human side present in "I'm Still Here", it is wonderful to see a film by a filmmaker who truly understands cinema, who does not present alienated ideas but rather pure and genuine human expression. As a Brazilian, of course, I will be rooting for Walter Salles' work to be nominated for an Oscar, but I think the goal of making national cinema talked about again has already been achieved. Beautiful film, beautiful message and beautiful performances.

This movie is pure magic. Beautifully photographed and perfect in every detail. Walter Salles has once again performed a miracle - his movie is absolutely flawless. What can be said about Fernanda Torres? Her performance is BRAVURA. It is a very subtle and nuanced performance, she does not burst into tears or screams like in melodramas. Her eyes show it all. What a brilliant actress! Selton Mello is a HUGE surprise, I thought he was some sort of supporting role, but he plays a very important role in the first half of the movie. Perfect acting. All in all, this film is a must see for everyone in the world who cares about the future of humanity.