Elijah van der Fluit is a writer for The Hollywood Insider based in California with aspirations to write and direct films for a professional career. In his spare time, Elijah enjoys watching and discussing movies of all genres as well as reading, hiking, spending time with family, and being one with the world. Elijah believes that art, whatever form it may take, has the ability to inspire and broaden people’s perspectives in a positive way and he hopes to use his work in film and writing to do so.
Feb 17, 2025
Table of Contents
Historical conflicts and struggles which have been experienced by real people are always more telling of the human experience than fabricated fiction can ever hope to be, as proven by the newest film from Brazilian filmmaker Walter Salles. ‘I’m Still Here’ (2024) is about the family of Rubens Paiva, a Brazillian congressman who was tragically among those who lost their life by torture during Brazil’s years of military dictatorship. Rather than focus on the suffering and end of Paiva himself, the film masterfully depicts the effects his absence has on his large, happy family to achieve harrowing results by the film’s end.
Many stories have emphasized the delicacy of one’s family, but ‘I’m Still Here’ makes an audience connect with the wife and children of Rubens Paiva like no other film dealing with family does. The first twenty or so minutes of the film are dedicated to the festivities and bonds that Paiva’s family have. The family spends their days at the beautiful beach across from their home, playing soccer, eating souffle with friends, and the eldest even moves to England. The looming threat of the military is seen often in the background, but surely they won’t do harm to such an innocent, picturesque family, right?
As one would infer, the family’s good times do not continue throughout the film as the father, Rubens Paiva, is taken away for reasons not to be said. To the horror of the characters and audience, the mother, Eunice Paiva and one of her children are taken into custody for suspicion and mercilessly interrogated in a harrowing collection of scenes that are sure to shock mothers all around. This harsh tonal shift is extremely effective due to us having witnessed this family’s strong bonds and excitement for life. It goes to show the terrifying reality of life where blissful times are snatched away by reality in an instant.
Fernanda Torres encapsulates the film’s emotional heart
Given her Oscar nomination for best lead actress at the 97th Academy Awards, it is no surprise that Fernanda Torres gives a spectacular performance. Playing the part of a mother forced to deal with the well being of her family in light of the ramifications of her husband being taken away, Torres as Eunice Paiva exudes all the proper emotional value with masterful ease in all of her scenes whether it’s in scenes of fun times with the family or devastatingly realistic waterboarding in prison. She encapsulates the entire heart of this film which is not only striving to depict the struggles that families such as the Paivas suffered under their country’s dictatorship, but to also show how they must continue their lives in spite of the loss. The Paivas have to live in this unforgiving regime’s rulership without confirmation if the father is still alive or if he will return. Eunice Paiva must accept early on that the most reasonable reality is that he will never come back and Torres magnificently portrays both her pain and acceptance over this cruel outcome.
Director Walter Salles Returns with an intimate look at 1970s Brazil
Brazilian filmmaker Walter Salles is known for his work on several well known films to come out of Brazil including producing ‘City of God’ (2002) as well as directing the acclaimed ‘Central Station’ (1998). With a prolific career mostly unknown by general audiences, Salles comes back after almost ten years to direct what will go down as his most intimate film yet. A certain visual look is brought to ‘I’m Still Here’ that makes it almost look as if it was made in the time period in which the film takes place. Brazil in the 1970s is showcased with unflinching reality in both the picturesque parts of beach going and music as well as the harsh military regime that ruled the country with a brutal fist during this time. Despite having a wealthy background, Salles is able to expertly portray the lifestyles of a middle class Brazilian, showcasing the rough low income areas in an authentic fashion. Combining his experienced directing with the excellent performances from all of the actors, ‘I’m Still Here’ emotionally soars in all ways that it strives to, providing a cinematic experience that evokes warmth and horror at the real life events that took place in the Paiva family.
From the Holocaust to the Rwandan genocide to name a few, history has seen no shortage of atrocities and evil regimes. Periods where nations and the people living in them see unmitigated oppression or unprecedented rising in numbers of deaths. ‘I’m Still Here’ takes place during the years of Brazil where the country was essentially ruled by a military controlled dictatorship which carried out the unfair oppression and eventual death of hundreds. Rubens Paiva, a congressman who opposed their rule was one of them who was unexpectedly taken from his family, beaten and tortured to death with no discovery of his remains to this day. His suffering is made superbly powerful within the film, for one due to them never showing the kind of torture he underwent. His well being is left a mystery to the audience and characters, leaving behind a somber, eerie feel to his outcome.
What makes the disappearance and eventual fate of Rubens Paiva even more devestating is how long it takes for the state to apologize or even release the full details of Paiva’s loss. The family is not even sure if Paiva will come back or not and one by one, they must accept at some point that he never will. For Eunice, she must quickly resolve that he is gone so she can focus on the well being of her children. In a scene towards the end when Paiva’s children are grown up, they discuss when they finally realizing that their dad was never coming back. This uncertainty is only confirmed decades later when the family has moved and found success in various areas and the death certificate of Rubens Paiva is released. But instead of sucumbing to further sadness, Eunice is thrilled that finally she and her children have closure. All of this prolonged correcting by the state makes one wonder how many other tragedies of a similar nature to Paiva have not only occured, but gone without report and proper resolve?
‘I’m Still Here’ counts itself as one of the special films of last year. It contains all needed to make it an Oscar worthy film with incredible performances, gorgeous cinematography, playful 1970s music choices, and a powerful insight into a tragic period in history. It’s more intimate look into the family of a lost beloved husband and father hits as hard as a story as it occurred in real life. It encourages others to be mindful of totalitarian regimes that are perhaps in the process of forming as well as cherishing all the time spent with family and loved ones as it not last forever and can be taken away at any time.
CREDITS:
Cast: Fernanda Torres, Selton Mello, Fernanda Montenegro
Cinematography by: Adrian Teijido
Edited by: Affonso Gonçalves
Produced by: Maria Carlota Bruno, Rodrigo Teixeira, Martine de Clermont-Tonnerre
Directed by: Walter Salles
By Elijah van der Fluit
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Elijah van der Fluit is a writer for The Hollywood Insider based in California with aspirations to write and direct films for a professional career. In his spare time, Elijah enjoys watching and discussing movies of all genres as well as reading, hiking, spending time with family, and being one with the world. Elijah believes that art, whatever form it may take, has the ability to inspire and broaden people’s perspectives in a positive way and he hopes to use his work in film and writing to do so.
Elijah van der Fluit is a writer for The Hollywood Insider based in California with aspirations to write and direct films for a professional career. In his spare time, Elijah enjoys watching and discussing movies of all genres as well as reading, hiking, spending time with family, and being one with the world. Elijah believes that art, whatever form it may take, has the ability to inspire and broaden people’s perspectives in a positive way and he hopes to use his work in film and writing to do so.
Elijah van der Fluit is a writer for The Hollywood Insider based in California with aspirations to write and direct films for a professional career. In his spare time, Elijah enjoys watching and discussing movies of all genres as well as reading, hiking, spending time with family, and being one with the world. Elijah believes that art, whatever form it may take, has the ability to inspire and broaden people’s perspectives in a positive way and he hopes to use his work in film and writing to do so.
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