Director: Walter Salles
Starring: Fernanda Torres, Selton Mello, Fernanda Montenegro
Certificate: 15
Run Time: 138 mins

I’m Still Here is a political biographical drama about a husband’s forced disappearance during the military dictatorship in Brazil and Walter Salles’ first film since 2012’s On The Road. It’s based on Marcelo Rubens Paiva’s 2015 memoir of the same name, Marcelo being the son of Rubens Paiva, who was the victim in question. Fernanda Torres places Eunice Paiva, Rubens’ wife and activist, with the film largely told from her perspective and how she struggles to cope emotionally and financially, while trying to raise her five children. The film’s received a near unanimously positive response and is one of the Best Picture contenders at this year’s Academy Awards, and has also become the highest-grossing Brazilian films since the coronavirus pandemic.

I found I’m Still Here to be a deeply affecting and gripping piece of work, masterfully directed by Salles who skilfully contrasts the quiet family domesticity with the simmering and oppressive political horror. Although the film tells a story that happens in the past, I’m Still Here feels very contemporary with its mirroring of current dystopian events. The first hour is quite fast-paced, whereas the second is much slower but this is where the film really wraps its enchanting spell – it reminded me of Roma in many ways in terms of how it finds beauty in the mundane. The film’s complimented by a wonderful Warren Ellis score, which is very subdued in the first half but becomes more melodic later on. Although the majority of the film is set in 1970, the last half an hour jumps forward to 1996 and 2014. Although these somewhat disturb the film’s rhythm, they’re crucial in how they magnify the cruel Brazilian regime of 1970 and how the father’s disappearance continues to have a lasting effect on Eunice and the rest of her family’s lives, lending the film an epic quality.

Fernanda Torres is just sensational as Eunice and fully deserving of her Best Actress Oscar nomination. She deftly balances her intelligence and frantic search for the truth while being as motherly as she can to her children. Torres’ mother, Fernanda Montenegro appears late in the film in a brief cameo as the older Eunice. Montenegro was also nominated for a Best Actress Oscar 25 years ago in Central Station, also directed by Walter Salles and her appearance lends a heavy weight to the feel, as if we’re watching something come full-circle. The rest of the cast are also excellent, especially all of the children who have distinct and bright personalities, as well as Pri Helena as Zezé the housekeeper.

I absolutely loved I’m Still Here and found myself powerfully moved as the credits started to roll. This is Walter Salles at the top of his game supported by terrific performances and an important, timely story. It’s tied with The Brutalist as my pick of the Best Picture cohort this year and I can’t wait to watch it again – I’m Still Here is a must-see.