17/20
Eunice Paiva: Martha, you have to help me
Tale
A mother is forced to reinvent herself when her family’s life is shattered by an act of arbitrary violence during the increasingly strict control of a military dictatorship in Brazil, 1971. Chosen by the Brazilian Film Academy to compete for Best International Film at the 2025 Oscars.
My husband is in danger!
Martha: Everyone is in danger, Eunice. Featured on Mais Você: Episode of December 3, 2024 (2024).
The Feast of the Holy King Written by Léo Maia (as Marcio Leonardo) Starring Tim Maia
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 each member was shocked and heartbroken by the disappearance of their father (played with deep affection by Selton Mello) . Featuring a powerhouse performance from Fernanda Torres as the matriarch Eunice, the film chronicles the horrors of the Brazilian dictatorship without being preachy or preachy.
She is persuasive and moving without ever being melodramatic, in a masterful piece of work
By focusing on the human aspects and the sense of loss of those people who never received an answer about the disappearance of their loved ones, the script becomes more powerful as it goes along. All of 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 sticks in the memory.
“I’m Still Here” is a film to cherish and hold on to
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 (Oscar nominee for “Central Station”) at the end.
