I’m Still Here

Director: Walter Salles

Language: Portuguese (English subtitles)

Set during the political uprising and Brazilian dictatorship of the early 1970’s, it tells the true story of Eunice Paiva (Fernanda Torres) and her husband Rubens (Selton Mello). Rubens is a former congressman, who has now returned to his life as an architect. But in an increasingly dictatorial state, there is growing suspicion of anyone who poses a threat to the government and when the Paiva home is raided by the army one morning their lives are changed forever.

I’m Still Here, is a powerful, if flawed, telling of a complex and terrifying story. It is a film that has garnered a lot of awards attention and you can see why, especially in Fernanda Torres’s central performance.

But. for me, it is a film of two halves. Its first is an incredibly tense, political thriller, it builds tension and foreboding, and, for someone, who didn’t know the true story, it kept me hooked, always expecting the worst but not sure where and when. The second half felt less successful, it didn’t engage as much. It didn’t seem to explore the remarkable life Eunice lives, the full impact on the family and it covers the final 40 years of the story in around 20 minutes, making it feel like it ran out of steam, long before the end.

What isn’t in question is Fernanda Torres’s performance. She takes you through the emotions of love, fear, loss, grief and determination, never over playing, never melodramatic. There’s also good support, especially in some of the young performers, the two middle sisters particularly.

The film looks great, especially in its recreation of a 1970’s Rio under increasing control of the army, transporting you into the horror of political persecution.

I’m Still Here is a film of two parts. The first a hugely successful, tense look at the horrors of persecution under a dictatorial regime. The second feels less successful and never quite engages as much running out of steam before the end. What’s not in doubt is its fantastic central performance that engages throughout. But solid rather than great.