I'm Still Here || My Thoughts On...
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.พ. 2025
- Here are my thoughts on the Oscar Nominated film I'm Still Here (2024), Directed by Walter Salles
Let me know what you thought of I'm Still Here in the comments!
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Do you realize when you were watching the movie the subtil aspect that happens just before eunice recieve the news that rubens is dead: the dog is killed for the same police of the state that arrested rubens, and then the dog is buried. The thing is: the dog had more dignity than rubens, he was never buried. This movie is like his body, a return of rubens body for his family after state kidnaped him and spread lies about why he never returned. Actually, this delicate piece of art is a tomb that this family never had for cry for him and in a way a recognition that he existed. Thats why this movie is so special for us. Its a reparation. It is rubens body, finally.
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Wow, i hadn't realized this point about the dog's burial. It makes total sense
What a beautiful things to say! I think it's true
aqui de novo.....lol
@@edy45ddante63to contando pra todos eles 😂
It's funny your criticism regarding the lack of a better historical context being presented because we Brazilians consume many films from the USA, for example, without any or very little context and explanation, and we are used to it. It is even what makes us research and learn more about such history
I live in America and my god is it such an issue. People here legit think countries in South or Central America just failed out or no where and never learn that the US is the major reason for these regimes and coups.
It's like watching a WW2 movie that focuses on a single person or group and going "I think they should have explained better the Nazi's reasonings for doing what they did."
We already know the historic context. It's not our fault if people go into the movie without knowing our history or not researching it later. I learned a lot about other countries history bc I got curious after watching a movie or a series or an anime.
There is no lack of historical context on the film, there is a lack of american history in the u.s. curriculum
As Brazilians, we are more aware of foreign cultures. We're not insulated and focused on our own historical events. I'm British-Brazilian and I can see the limitations with regard the openness and acceptance of alien concepts.
@@Aizack98exactly! Especially when we take into account that dictatorships all over Latin America were their fault! Wake tf up!
I realized that most of the film's criticisms are precisely in these two time jumps, which seem unnecessary to those who, like you, don't know the subtext of the film. Many say that the first jump is understandable, because it shows exactly how long it took for this family to get answers and how the family was still there alone... The second, which many people outside of Brazil find unnecessary, is simply the whole reason we have this film today. When Marcelo, Eunice and Rubens' son, started writing the book, his mother was losing her memory due to Alzheimer's, and he wrote for her... This final arc represents exactly the intention of telling this story. What for foreigners is "unnecessary", is often a golden opportunity for Brazilians to show how this story needed to be told...
Exactly... i feel the same way ... in the end, the movie is not just a family drama... it represents the drama of a nation that had been forgotten or suppressed throughout the years . The movie is not just a way to preserve Eunice's memories but also the nation's memories as may young ppl didn't know about these events or didn't have idea how terrible it was.
And there is the whole Truth Commission opening in 2014 that is important since it is in this commission that the ways Rubens was murdered were brought to light. The news on the TV screen in the last scene talks exactly about this commission and that's Eunice's trigger to remember. That is beautiful and made me realize how Brazilian was this film and that it was made targeting the Brazillian audiences
I think they, somewhere deep inside are annoyed because it somehow touched a wound
The second time jump also shows that, 40 years later, the family was still united around Eunice, this time caring for her. This is their final victory, in a sense.
Rubens Paiva, while in congress, worked towards a series of laws to improve work conditions for black people. That was one of the reasons for the coup. It was fostered by the US in order to avoid the left from taking power. That is why he was targeted, more than the fact that he was part of a group that connected people in exile with their families in Brazil. The people that tortured and killed people were pardoned and never saw any consequences for their actions.
Adding, in the Cold War era, any left leaning or worker benefiting government in latin America was seen as a comunist threat by the US government, hence the amount of military dictatorships and coups that ensured...
Regarding the two criticisms, the point is that the film is not a political thriller, but a family drama about a mother who needs to keep her family going after the disappearance of her husband. The political side of the dictatorship serves as context, as a backdrop. The fault that the United States does not know the history of Latinos lies with your schools and midia. We are in contact with American culture all the time. As for the ending, I heard some similar opinions here in Brazil, but I don't agree. The film is about memory and shows Eunice at the end of her life with Alzheimer's, but with her mind revived by seeing a photo of her Rubens, a sign that the strength of a family's love can surpass even the limits imposed by politics and illness and overcoming oblivion. Thank you for your excellent comments.
Excelente observação amigo!!!!
Continuo achando que o filme não foi político o suficiente, é muito importante entender porque o Rubens Paiva foi morto pela ditadura. Não se separa a ditadura e o terror dela da política, simples.
@@2directioners1bandmas os personagens estão sim discutindo resistência o tempo todo, talvez vc perceba assistindo uma segunda vez, eles só não fazem isso de forma expositiva, pq não é pra gringo q não estuda história, não precisa e pq seria cafona demais fazer mais exposição em um filme sobre uma família
Que isso foi uma ditadura militar empresarial, parte da repressão política dos EUA na América Latina durante a Guerra Fria é uma informação EXTREMAMENTE BÁSICA que as escolas dos gringos deveriam dar, pq é a história deles também. Um filme brasileiro para brasileiros não tem que fazer essa educação.
@ Eu sei que eles discutem, mas é raso, o filme ter política não é só pra gringo, aliás tem muito brasileiro que acha que ditadura só matou vagabundo. Não da pra falar que o filme não é pra gringo pq seria ingenuidade, se não fosse não estaria ganhando tantos prêmios internacionais, filme que é do Brasil pro Brasil não precisa nem de validação dos outros e não passa nem perto dos festivais, só ver o Glauber Rocha.
Na minha visão o filme não teve olhar político além do superficial, falam das perseguições, mas não falam porque perseguem, e é necessário falar sim, porque a família foi destruída por uma razão, porque achavam que Rubens Paiva era comunista, porque ele queria alimentar os pobres ou queria liberdade de expressão.
As a Brazilian, every single detail in the film, increases even more the emotions we're feeling, the very small things, from the way they are answering phones, to the plates they are serving food, those bring memories from my grandparents house and even some from my parents ways of living.
I don't think I've ever seen a movie that made me feel that many emotions before.
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You talk about the naturalistic acting, including by the child actors. I have an example: in that scene in which a photo was being taken in front of the house (the one in which the reporter asks for the family not to smile), the boy (who later in his life wrote the book “I’m still here”) looks at his mother with a serious face, waiting to see if she would smile or not. She does and so does he. And then he does it again. That’s powerful cinema right there.
Every dictatorship dehumanizes its targets. This movie, instead of picturing the vicious way the dictatorship treated its objectors, humanizes them. It's a human film above all labels and, because of this, it dialogues with so many people.
I suggest you read the book when you can. This story was written by Marcelo, one of the youngest children. He felt the need to tell the story when his mother was suffering from Alzheimer's and losing her memory. Eunice's story is epic and contained. Fernanda Torres said in one of her interviews that her biggest concern was not to betray the image of that woman who, even in the shadows, played a huge role in the history of recent Brazil. Eunice Paiva was one of the consultants and drafters of the 1988 Constitution, which is still in force today. This charter contains several safeguards to prevent another coup. They were severely tested between 2019 and 2023.
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Some very important information here.
I must add: Eunice went to law university and became a lawyer tô work with human rights, specially indigenous rights.❤
A good movie doesn't need special effects. Good actors, simplicity, truth in its purpose and a very well told story. I'm proud Brazil has been able to contribute to the art of cinematograghy with such a touching film. I hope it wins!
This movie deserves an Oscar 🥹
Amanda , você está comentando em praticamente todos os canais que falam sobre "Eu ainda estou aqui". Legal 👏👏👏
Deserves at least 3, but they aren't prepared for that conversation xP
Great review. Another cool detail: in his teens, Walter Salles was actually a friend of one of the daughters in the Paiva household. So he was actually part of that circle for a while and visited the house a number of times. He used his own memories in his favor as he made the movie.
You should also watch Salles' "Central Station". It's another amazing and very moving film and it stars Fernanda Montenegro, Fernanda Torres' mother. She was also an Oscar nominee back in 1999 and she portrays the older Eunice in "I'm Still Here".
Just watched this video with my husband, a former film critic, and we really appreciated your thoughtful and articulate analysis of the film. We are both Brazilians, living in Rio, and it's heart-warming to see someone with no background in our culture responding in a similar way to the movie, the family, the photography... For you to appreciate the film's visuals even more, google what Leblon looks like today (Leblon is the neighborhood in which the Paiva house was located). It's incredible how Walter and his team managed to erase the last 50 years of urban development in such a seamless way. (ps. his name is pronounced VAL-ter SAH-lees, in Portuguese, but we thought "sales" sounded cute
These 2 moments you called "epilogue" are important to this real biograph, its not mere scene. The book in which the film was based on is about the forgiveness condition of old Eunice. And the moment in 1996 was also important to the recognition of Rubens' death certificate, a true episode of the Brazilian history
O filme está fazendo um enorme sucesso aqui no Brasil. Já foi visto por mais de 4 milhões de pessoas. Merece demais um Oscar. PS: Sobre cinema brasileiro, te indico City of God e Central Station, que foram filmes também nominados ao Oscar.
SOME INFORMATION
💎 I'm Still Here is the first Portuguese-spoken movie to be nominated to the Oscar of Best Picture and the sixth that was nominated to Best Foreign Language Film (the fifth representing Brazil).
💎 Fernanda Torres's mother, Fernanda Montenegro was the first latin actress nominated to the Oscar of Best Actress (Katy Jurado, Rita Moreno and Norma Aleandro had already been nominated as Supporting Actress) and, to date, she was the only Portuguese-spoken actor nominated to the award, but her daughter just repeated this. That was in 1999, with the movie Central Station, also directed by Walter Salles and nominated to Best Foreign Language Film.
💎 Fernanda Torres, Selton Mello and Fernanda Montenegro played in Four Days in Septemper, brazilian movie nominated to the Oscar of Best Foreign Language Film in 1998, also about brazilian dictatorship period.
💎 Fernanda Torres, aged 20, won the award for Best Actress at the 1986 Cannes Film Festival by the movie Love Me Forever or Never (tied with Barbara Sukowa, by Rosa Luxemburg). She was the first brazilian actress (of two) to win an award in Cannes. The second one was Sandra Corveloni that, coincidentally, was directed by Walter Salles.
💎 Fernanda Torres was the fourth brazilian actor nominated to Golden Globe, but the second with a Portuguese-spoken performance. The first one was her mother. The other nominees were Sônia Braga (Kiss of the Spider Woman, Moon Over Parador and The Burning Season) and Wagner Moura (Narcos).
💎 Fernando Torres, father of Fernanda Torres (yes, they got the same name), played in Kiss of Spider Woman (4 nominations to the Oscar 1986, William Hurt won Best Actor)
💎 I'm Still Here is the fourth movie of Walter Salles to be nominated to the Golden Globe of Best Foreign Language Film (Central Station won, and the other nominees were Behind the Sun and Motorcycle Diaries) and the second nominated to the Oscar of the same category (Central Station was the first)
💎 Fernanda Torres gained a pop star quality in Brazil because her performances in the sitcoms Normal People and Slaps and Kisses.
Hi, Brazilian here. Your video is proof that this movie fulfilled its purpose, because it is more than the political context of Brazil in the 1970s. It is about a family, that could be any family, struck by political violence. This movie came at the right time and the Oscars need this movie!
Fernanda Torres, the incridible performance, I'M STILL HERE 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏
I really hope 'I'm Still Here' wins best internacional film 🎉
I refuse to believe that the academy won't reward a performance as extraordinary as Torres
5:55 sobre isso... esse filme foi feito para os brasileiros, todo mundo conhece a história e no fim o filme é sobre a família e a perda, por isso que muitos que não conhecem a história da ditadura se identifica tanto, já que a resiliência é vista em muitas situações
Se quer ver filme sobre ditadura e sobre a luta armada, aconselho a ver "Marighella" e "O que é isso, companheiro?" , o segundo a Fernanda Torres e Fernanda Montenegro estão nele e também foi indicado ao oscar
It's a drama story, ultra-realistic, the film's politics are subliminal, we Brazilians understand every detail of this film, for you foreigners it would be necessary to interact more in our context to understand the subtle political messages that are present throughout the film. The film is based on what is most sacred to all of us, family. And it tells an intimate story, of a past that is not dystopian, but recent, and that still haunts the world. In the end, the film is not only a warning, but also a powerful weapon, as it teaches us that humanity and resilience are the best weapons against fascism. Masterpiece!
the photography in this film is amazing😎🤌📽🎞🏖
Hello everything is fine? As a Brazilian, I thank you very much for such a sensitive review. I highly recommend Walter Salles' other film, Central Station, from 1998, for which, by the way, he also won a Golden Globe and competed for the 1999 Oscar. It features Fernanda Torres' mother, Fernanda Montenego, the great lady of Brazilian acting. So, it's also an emotional film. Thank you and a hug from Brazil.
Many people don’t know that "I'm Still Here" is a book by Marcelo Paiva, the son in the movie. The film doesn’t show this, but as his mother aged and started forgetting, he noticed the country was also "forgetting" the dictatorship’s pain. As a writer, he felt the need to tell their story to keep both her memories and history alive. I think this fact helps explain the decision the director took for the conclusion of the movie.
Few remarks, this movie wasn’t done having in mind educating the entire world on this period of Brazilian history, but rather showing the devastating effects of the regime on every day lives and families.
Also it was based on the book “I’m still here” written in real life by the son, Marcelo.
The two epilogues are important to show how long it took the new democratic governments to get anything for the victims, and trust me there hasn’t been justice to this day.
Few weeks ago his death certificate got amended and the cause of death changed to violent acts and torture from the regime.
The military got amnesty, a stain in our history and some of them tried again a coup in 2022, let’s hope no forgiving this time.
If you want more Historical movies, I’d recommend:
1-Marighella
2-Zuzu Angel
3-Batismo de Sangue
4-O dia Que Durou 21 Anos (documentary)
It's true that Fernanda Torres' performance is extraordinary, without being melodramatic. I'm still here, great movie!! ❤ You should watch Central Station, also directed by Walter Salles, featuring Fernanda Torres' mother, who was also nominated for best actress Oscar more than 20 years ago.
Fernanda Torres é maravilhosa, selton mello é incrível o filme AINDA ESTOU AQUI é formidável ❤❤❤❤❤❤!
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‘I’M STILL HERE’ 👏👏👏
The dictatorship had NO motives to arrest rubens. They didnt accept people who doesnt agree with the regime or progressive people. If you just wanted to help an artist that the dictatorship didnt like to leave the country, you would become a target. No crimes involved in the situation. Just an example.
Por isso era uma ditadura...
@@hmcconsultoria2578sim mas o rapaz do vídeo quer justificar o injustificável
Many actresses could replace Demi Moore in The Substance, but no one would be able to replace Fernanda Torres in I'm Still Here.
Fernanda Torres’ performance in the ice cream shop scene in I’m Still Here is nothing short of breathtaking-an Oscar-worthy moment of pure, raw emotion. Without needing grand monologues, she conveys an overwhelming mix of frustration, exhaustion, and heartbreak through the subtlest yet most powerful expressions.
Her eyes, filled with unspoken pain, dart between her children and the situation unfolding around her, silently pleading for control, for relief, for a moment to just breathe. The way her lips tremble, the deep sighs she takes as if trying to suppress an emotional collapse-each micro-expression tells a story more devastating than words ever could.
Then comes that desperate attempt to maintain composure. She forces a smile, nodding slightly, as if convincing herself and those around her that everything is fine. But it’s not. Her hands fidget, her posture stiffens, and in that brief moment where she looks down, it’s as if the weight of the entire world crashes onto her shoulders.
The moment the tension becomes unbearable, she lets out a restrained yet gut-wrenching sigh-half a breath, half a sob-before gathering herself just enough to push through. It’s the kind of acting that doesn’t need words; her silence is louder than any scream, her restraint more painful than an outburst.
Few scenes in cinema achieve this level of emotional depth. It’s not just acting-it’s lived experience, it’s truth, it’s heartbreak in its purest form. You don’t just watch this scene; you feel it.
Fernanda Torres is the GOAT. 🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
All hats off to Fernanda Torres
Thank you very much for your review, very sensitive and fair. This is a film that breaks us, it is difficult to explain the feelings it awakens. I would really like Fernanda to win the Oscar, Brazilians have been waiting for this since 1999, when her mother lost to Central Station.
The brazilian dictatorship, like the actress Fernanda Torres said on Jimmy Fallon, was part of the cold war, the fear of communists was main realson for the military to act like they do in the movie
Each of the time jumps shows a very important point in Eunice's life and as a Brazilian it is very impactfull because we recognize their significance and weight. The first one is when the government FINALLY gave her a death certificate, recognizing that he had indeed died all those years ago. Before that, they didn't even admit that he'd been detained, let alone killed by the regime. And the next time jump shows that they only got closure and an explanation for what exactly happened to Rubens when Eunice wasn't able to retain her memories anymore. They only got back the information, the history or "memory" Eunice fought for, after she had lost so much to Alzheimer. It's ironic. And it was also a huge deal here in Brazil with the comissão da verdade (the truth committee) which uncovered tons of stories and information about the torture and crimes committed by the dictatorship.
I also thought the epilogues were kinda weird. But the more I think about it, the more it makes sense. Think about the title. The permanence of Rubens absence represents the permanence of that cruelty and how Brasil still has a lot to deal with regarding the military dictatorship.
As a matter of fact, just last month the Brasilian government issued a new death certificate for Rubens stating explicitly that he was killed by the State. Hundreds of families still wait for their turn. This is an open story and many many families are still looking for justice. So in that sense I came to see those epilogues are signs of this open story, the open wound on our national memory.
Great review. I think the reason why it lacked a bit of political context is because this movie was never intended to hit international audiences in the first place: it was made for domestic disclosure, so to say, and Brazilians are fed up with the political background of all of this since Jair Bolsonaro, who publicly advocated for that regime, was elected shortly after Trump’s first election saying people like Rubens Paiva deserved what they got (he even spit on his statue in the Chamber of Deputies), saying he was a communist involved in plots to overthrow the military government and install a soviet-like dictatorship-which are claims poorly founded; he was but a social-democrat, but the military were paranoid against a Marxist guerrilla lead by a man named Lamarca and they thought Rubens could be related to him, but they ended up killing him for accident during a torture session. That’s all...
Hey, thanks on your sensitive review, I can say that I share most of your emotions watching it. Fun fact on regard your historical context comment, it is interesting for me, as a brazilian, get your point of view feeling somehow lost on that context. On my perspective, I judged that the movie was on point, not to be such political or propaganda, and it gives the sense of what it was going on with the news on TV, about the kidnapping of embassadors that was happening during that time to call the international attention to ehat is was going on in Brazil. To get to know more about it, I recommend you another brazilian movie from 90s I think, called "O que é isso companheiro?" that shows the fight against that regime. Couriously you wull see a much younger Fernanda Torres on that movie too.
Thanks again for the review!
Naturally I am cheering up to see this movie bringing the first oscar in a movie produced here south!
See you on next video!
Fernanda Torres vestiu o personagem da Eunice Paiva com maestria, sem exageros e apelações. A historia real por si já é cruel e covarde. O Filme é maravilhoso e importante. Temos muito orgulho do filme e da interpretacao da Fernanda Torres....incrivelmente incrível!!!!
We need to talk a lot about this film, precisely so that this tragedy
does not happen again in a country, especially now with the rise of the extreme right,
including in the USA.
Hello, I have a theory about Walter Salles. First you should watch other movies like "Central Station" and "Motorcycle Diaries" to understand his progression as a director, then you should read about the politics in Brazil since the end of militar dictatorship (baked by CIA, in case of you don't know). My theory is: this movie is a response to the progression of far right in the world, not only in Brazil. Things are being normalized, some minorities are being portrayed as "non-humans" (Kurdistan, Palestine, Romani/Gypsies), etc. This movie is a political statement. You can think as "oh it is about humans rights, so it is a human story, etc" but everything is political. Everything. Salled had years to carefully design a political manifesto but he was not alone. I think he had a vision to enrich the original story (it is based on a book) and the result is a piece of art that is kinda... UNIVERSAL.
Fernanda Torres delivers an extraordinary performance in I’m Still Here, demonstrating her mastery of nuance, depth, and emotional intensity. With every scene, she captivates the audience, balancing raw vulnerability with a quiet strength that lingers long after the credits roll. Her ability to convey complex emotions with subtle expressions and precise timing is a testament to her artistic maturity and deep understanding of the craft.
What makes her portrayal truly remarkable is the authenticity she brings to the role-every gesture, every silence, every glance feels deeply lived-in, as if she is not merely performing but embodying the very essence of the character. This level of commitment transforms the film into an immersive experience, making it impossible to look away.
Her Golden Globe recognition is well deserved, not just as an acknowledgment of this singular performance but as a celebration of a career defined by excellence, fearlessness, and an unwavering dedication to storytelling. Fernanda Torres is magnificent and phenomenal. Hats off to Torres. Congrats Brasil for this masterpiece 🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷👏👏👏👏👏👏
The best movie of 2024
Can you see the fragility of freedom?!!😮.
Hard times
i think the context of the time jumps and the way they were made in the movie convey the feeling that the families going through this kind of tragedy must’ve felt - why did it take so long? the military had so much power in politics (and still do) that some decisions concerning the military dictatorship took way too long to be made. also, it wasn’t just far left groups that were targeted by the military. any “strange gathering” or “suspicious activity” by a group of people that looked a little more different could easily have been stopped violently like the car Vera was in.
You should really watch Walter Salles' Behind the Sun, staring Brazilian hollywood actor Rodrigo Santoro. Central Station was maybe Walter Salles' masterpiece before I'm Still Here, but Behind the Sun also brings to light the anguish and grieve that you liked so much in ISH.
Fernanda Torres is a amazing actress and I'm Still Here is a great film
I'm Still Here is a masterpiece and Fernanda Torres is a spectacular actress. They deserve the Oscar!
I just loved the movie. Torres' performance is unique! What an experience!
Please watch Central Station from the same director - the leading actress is Fernanda Torres' mother
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Hi!
I'm going to add a little more context to the film:
All of of the songs that the family listens at the house are musics from musicians that got censured during the dictarshiop and the songs that we listen on the radios are popular songs, but from artists that were complict with the regime.
When the military comes to kidnap Rubens you can see them lurking around, looking at their vinyl collection and books, they were actually looking for "subversive" material.
Also: the helicopter thar flies by them at the beach, were used to drop bodies at the sea. We only found about that about that decades later.
Walter was very clever about that, but again: you have to be brazillian to know that
I really dont know why it didnt got nominated for adapted screanplay :(
And Director for Walter, bc the music, our art, is really important for us, and he was able to show that in the movie.
Also: millions of milleniuns and Gen X grew up reading his books, and his family. We all love him, and we are really happy that their are getting this level of recognition. NOT SO FUN FACT: Rubens has a statue in Brasilia, and at the day of the inauguration, Bolsonaro spit at the statue, and said that he deserved to die. Yes, he is that dirty
Thanks for making this video!
The little boy is the one who wrote this book and the actors are a lot similar to the real characters 🎉🎉🎉🎉! The director should also be indicated as candidate to Oscar
I’m Still Here❤️🇧🇷
Such a Brazilian and profound masterpiece! I do believe it will be able to rightfully bring Brazil our first Oscar!
You know, my neighbor is a illegal immigrant, and he was taken by the government, obviously it's not the same, I think, but I thought that in the film it was a similar feeling for those people.
More than a cinematographic work, the film is a tribute and a denunciation. It exposes, in a raw and direct way, the brutality of repression, torture and persecution during the military dictatorship, reminding the public of the importance of keeping the memory of these dark times alive. Especially in current times, where speeches in support of dictatorship and historical revisionism are gaining strength, films like I'm Still Here have an essential role in preserving and honoring history and the victims of this state violence. Having done my TCC on the work of photographer Evandro Teixeira, who documented repression and became an icon of resistance against the dictatorship, I recognize in the film the same urgency in preserving memories and echoing silenced voices. I'm Still Here is, without a doubt, one of the most striking films of the year, a corrosive testimony to our history, and a constant reminder that silent lives must be remembered so that we never forget what was done.
O reconhecimento de um filme que retrata uma parte de nossa história que jamais deve ser esquecido!!!!
#ditaduranuncamais
You must watch "Central Station " that got 2 nominations at the 1999 Oscars. Fernanda Montenegro, Fernanda Torres' Mother was nominated for best actress and Gwyneth Paltrow won for Shakespeare in Love. And Central Station was nominated for Best Foreign film but La Vita é Bella won. We derserve to have our History, culture recognized BT the whole World. Our actors, our cinema, our literature, our music. Everything is so rich that the World deserve to acnowledge Brazil.
Thank you for bringing back this memory. I understand little about cinema, as much as I loved and cried over this film, however, beyond all these restrictions and deserved recognition, what touches me most is seeing young people who have little idea of the impact of the military regime on Brazilian civil life, leaving the cinema crying and having the complaint that the path we should follow is alongside democracy. Art has always proven to be an excellent instrument of social transformation. Thank you ♥️
It isnt a fantasy family. Its a real one. That family never lock the door and everyone was welcome there. The house, a movie character itself, used to be full of artists, intelectuals, musicians, culture. The director, walter salles, qas friends of one of the daugthers and was always there partying and chatting.He is a witness and made a very real portrait of this amazing family.
Hopefully I’m still here will win all three Oscars
#FernandaTorres #ImStillHere
Thank you for supporting brasil!!💖🇧🇷
At first, I love your review. The story is set against the backdrop of the military dictatorship. During this period, anyone who took any action against the regime was subject to death, imprisonment, torture, and exile. That’s it! For those who have never lived in a country outside a democratic regime, it may be a bit incomprehensible. The director managed to tell this story in a sensitive way, portraying a family brutally affected by the most cruel aspect of an authoritarian regime-making a loved one disappear without even the right to bury their body. And he did it beautifully.
I'm still here is so touching and full of depth. Fernanda Torres is sublime in it. I hope it gets Oscar recognition. It deserves it.
It should been nominated for best ensemble in SAG
We learn during the movie to love every single one in the family, even the dog!
According to Marcelo Rubens Paiva, in the book "I'm Still Here", at the moment the family photo was taken, where the photographer asked them to smile, Veroca is the only one who doesn’t smile because she was in London and learned about everything happening in Brazil from other exiled Brazilians who told her. Those living in Brazil had almost no access to any information.
It's really worth it to check Walter's previous movies, "Central Station" is sublime and "The Motorcycle Diaries" tells about Che Guevara's journey through South America in his beginning of adult life.
Thank you for your review. I understand your two pieces of criticism, but I'd like to offer you another point-of-view. First, about the political context not being so detailed. Not only was the main point to tell the story of this family, focusing on Eunice, who could hold her family together in spite of it all, but I'm sure it makes people curious to search more about the military regime in Brazil. Sometimes what is not told is precisely what drives people to go for it after they leave the movie theater. And second, about the two big time leaps in the story. I believe it was also the point of the film to show how a housewife who could easily grief all her life, and give up living, did something worthy and relevant. Besides being a supporting mother and holding her family together, she was bold enough to go back to school, and graduate in Law not only to continue in the search of having her husband's death certificate, but she had a key role on defending indigenous people in Brazil. I think it's important to show this leap in time so her story can inspire people to go on with their lives even in face of great devastation. And we should not forget the youngest son, who became a successful writer, and the author of the book where this very movie was based on. The photographs that pinpoint the whole movie - from good times to bad times - help everyone feel that life is a rich and diverse experience, and that we should not freeze in face of difficulties, no matter how hard they are. I'm sure everyone can relate to this.
Thank you! 🇧🇷✨
Grata por difundir a nossa história ❤
thank you so much for your touching review! the military dictatorship is still an open wound for us Brazilians, even for those who weren’t even born at the time (like me). it’s amazing to see Paiva’s sad and violent history touch people’s hearts out of Brazil and so many years later, as a reminder that freedom is never guaranteed and we should always stay vigilant. DITADURA NUNCA MAIS! 🇧🇷
great video!
Before I'm Still Here was shot, the cast spent weeks rehearsing in the house and immersing themselves in the characters. Also, the film was shot in chronological order, so that when Rubens is taken, it was also the last day of the actor who plays him on set, that helped bring authenticity to the performances
She received no insurance because the government didnt confirm rubens death. She was left with 5 children and no answers. Thats thw importance of the death certificate that came only in 1996. This film is also about rhe i.portance of memory since eunice had Alzheimers. His son wrote the book when he saw his mother losing her memory.
Watch Central Station from Walter Sales, Fernanda Montenegro whos is the old Eunice Paiva in this movie is the protagonist. It's my favorite drama movie of all.
The movie was filmed in sequential order - I really think this makes a difference because the actors feel the story with more realism. We live the film as a close friend of the family🥰 as all good movies it stays with us after it ends… 🥰 very very impressive
The historical context envolves USA with condor operation who financed far right dictartorship in latin america during cold War. Brazil for exemple had never a communist cell, but any progressist or sindical reunion had seen like a "menace".
21 years. A lot of military corrupction, a lot of torture, a lot of deaths
The documents I use to talk about the subject are documents from the CIA itself. "Operation Condor"
amazing film
I am glad you enjoyed the story of Still Here; I share the same feelings and experiences as you, especially regarding the slower pace of the passage of time! Walter's direction is brilliant, and Fernanda Torres' performance is simply impeccable. As David Fear wrote for Rolling Stone, "To say that Torres delves into the role of Eunice Paiva would be an understatement." It is a film that has a lot to say and says it with so few words...
Thank you for this!
It would be a dream if Torres win the Oscars
Great review! Some thoughts about what you said:
1 - Walter Salles has great previous works. One of them was Central Station (1998), that also received an Oscar nomination and it's very good. Also, he has previous work with Fernanda Torres, Foreign Land (1995)
2 - This movie was based at a book, with the same name, from Marcelo Rubens Paiva (the youngest boy of the family, they show him signing a book at the first time skip). Fun fact: Walter Salles was one of Marcelo's friends that visits the Paiva's house a lot before the government took the father, so he himself has a lot of memories from them
3 - It's interesting what you said about historical context. I understand what you mean, but this movie was not made for other countries, was made for us, brazilians, and most of us don't need this "context" to understand what's happening
4 - They shot this movie cronologically, so the actors were getting closer throughout the movie, in cameras and outside them. I recommend (just if you're interested, of course) to watch the Fernanda Torres interviews, she says a lot of curious things about the process of this movie
Thanks for watch the movie and make a video about it
Thank u for your coments
Masterpiece! Don’t miss the oportunity to see Central Station
"I'm Still Here" is a film of the purest and most wonderful art, with the talented actress Fernanda Torres delivering an exceptional performance. She’s so incredible that she can act on two fronts: one shows a whole universe of hidden suffering, reflected in her eyes - faithful witnesses to the terrible pain of her family drama - while, at the same time, through her lips and smiles, she creates a reality based on positivity and the strength of a mother who must keep fighting for her children’s happiness.
This is a family story, with moments of joy and also of sadness. This film could’ve been signed by any painting master, like Picasso, Miró, Kandinsky, or Monet, because it’s a beautiful and inspiring work of art that tells a human story of pain, overcoming, and a whole lot of love, taking the viewer to the edge of emotion.
I’m Still Here is amazing!! 🇧🇷🇧🇷 Fernanda torres amazing 🇧🇷🇧🇷
Muito bela e singela sua análise! Real, raw, clena, touching, moving...what a text of yours, tks! and what a film!!!! MASTER!
This movie broke me ❤️🩹
Fernandinha e Selton são paixão nacional 🇧🇷❤
Unfortunately Walter Salles was not nominated. He is a great director. You show watch his film "Central Station", with the mother of Fernanda Torres (Fernanda Montenegro). As her daughter, she was nominated for Golden globes as best actress (the movie won) and also for Oscar (she lost to Gweneth Paltrow). Amazing movie too
Walter Sales dirigiu Terra Estrangeira, Diário de um Motociclista, Abril Despedaçado, Central do Brasil, etc..
Walter Salles were friends with the Paiva’s family, he frequented the Paiva’s home. The book “Ainda Estou Aqui” was written by the son of Rubens Paiva, Marcelo. So he didn’t know what was going on politically, but he saw the anguish his mother went through!
Joshua, Very good explanation, congratulations for you! I'm Still Here deserves these Oscars
You just summoned the Brazilians in this video. Have a good ride.
you what a bigger historical context than a dictatorship? It shows, but this movie is about celebrating Eunice Paiva!
Thank you for your insights, Timpko. Walter Salles chose subtlety in dealing with such a brutal political topic for Brazilian society, so he works on the details. It's a very sensitive film. Greetings from Brazil.
The movie is based on the book witten by Marcelo, Ruben's son. He wrote about his mother, only. That is why it does not show too much of Brazil's history. It was not mentioned in the book.
Walter Salles is a highly renowned director here in Brazil, incredibly talented and knowledgeable on international cinema and the history of cinema. I would highly recommend you to check out more of his work (Central Station is a must!).
I understand what you're feeling about not understanding the military dictatorship, it's truly a vast topic that had incredibly deep implications in almost everything, especially art like music (check out Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso which were named in the movie) and cinema (check out the documentary Twenty Years Later - Eduardo Coutinho and The Day That Lasted 21 Years - Camilo Tavares if you want a more "wikipedia" take of events). Not being brazilian and getting all the small contexts and historical references is tough, I felt the same way about Parasite and loved that movie and it bridged a lot of gaps of my understanding of South Korean culture, anyways we're always learning! all the best loved to hear your thoughts :)
I imagine you're only gonna read these comments in years if ever... hahaha
Eu acho que posso chutar porque o diretor não se importou em dizer porque Rubens Paiva foi preso. Porque a prisão é feita de forma totalmente ilegal, onde não existia mais um estado democrático de direito. Ninguém tinha direitos fundamentais, nesse caso é impossível falar sobre culpabilidade. Se não existe um judiciário independente, uma polícia independente onde provas serão utilizadas pra mandados, onde acusações serão formuladas com o indivíduo tendo o direito de se defender, levando em consideração uma cadeia de custódia e o devido processo legal, não existe motivo. Ele não foi preso pelo Estado por qualquer coisa que tenha feito, ele foi sequestrado porque o Estado, ou alguém que fazia parte dele, queria, ponto final. Podem existir apontamentos sobre como ele entrou na mira do governo, mas em um Estado de exceção as pessoas podem ser presas simplesmente porque alguém quer, ou porque alguém disse que a pessoa em questão é contra o regime de alguma forma. Ou seja, qualquer consideração de motivos nessa história é perda de tempo e vazia de significado.
5:50 very good point