Je suis toujours là

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.

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.

Fernanda Torres gives an incredible performance, showing Eunice's strength and vulnerability in such a real and powerful way. She makes you feel every moment of the story, and her acting is unforgettable.

What makes "I'm Still Here" even more meaningful is how much it connects to what's happening in the world today. It's a strong reminder of the dangers of governments having too much power and why it's so important to protect democracy. The story of standing up to injustice feels relatable no matter where you're from, making this movie much bigger than just its Brazilian roots.

This film is a true example of how strong people can be, even in the worst situations. The acting, especially from Fernanda Torres, and the emotional story make it a must-see. It really stays with you, both on a personal level and when thinking about the bigger issues in the world.

It's also important to remember how hard it is to make a movie like this in Brazil. Creating art in places like Brazil comes with a lot of challenges that don't exist in the US or Europe, like limited resources and political difficulties. That makes this film even more special and inspiring.

"I'm Still Here" isn't just a movie-it's an important story that everyone should watch and talk about.

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 haunting film about the spectre of authoritarianism, set in Brazil in the 1970s but still resonant today. It starts as a sunny family drama with a familiar yet nostalgic setting, but with dark hints that not all is well in the surrounding political atmosophere. The most chilling scene is a home invasion by armed men whose prolonged presence is unexplained, upsetting the domestic balance of the family. There's no overt threat or shrieking fear, just a palpable sense of unease as the family tries to continue their lives without their missing father. Things escalate as other family members are calmly captured for interrogation, and the following sequences show the political and legal situation dominating the rest of their lives. Unfortunately, while the second half shows the impact of a single event, it also drags on as there's only so much you can portray of literally nothing happening. The ending is cathartic but horrifying in its timeline, requiring decades for a single resolution.