I’m Still Here

Rating 8/10

A chronicle about a close-knit family slowly morphs into a concerted fight against government oppression. I’m Still Here is a historical drama based on a true story about a turbulent era in Brazil’s history. Actress Fernanda Torres as Eunice Paiva is a standout in a phenomenal performance.

Brazil was under a military dictatorship from 1964 to 1985. Our account is set during the most violent period under General Emílio Garrastazu Médici. On January 20, 1971, armed agents from DOI-CODI, Brazil’s intelligence agency, raided the home of Rubens Paiva (Selton Mello) in São Paulo. He was arrested and taken to a secret facility. The narrative follows the aftermath of his forced disappearance. The former congressman had been a vocal critic of the regime and was suspected of helping opposition groups resist authoritarian rule.

At first, it is unclear what had happened to her husband, so Eunice embarks on an uneasy search for the truth. She confronts silence from the government and societal indifference. What unfolds is something gravely personal to her but also deeply affecting for us. Eunice evolves from a devoted wife and mother into a prominent human rights activist. The screenplay, written by Murilo Hauser and Heitor Dhalia, traces the journey of the Paiva family with a focus on Eunice’s committed efforts.

I’m Still Here is directed by Walter Salles, best known for another historical drama, The Motorcycle Diaries about “Che” Guevara. Salles’ latest film is adapted from the 2015 memoir by Marcelo Rubens Paiva, the son of Rubens Paiva. The film is an emotional presentation of one family’s tragedy, but also representative of the many individuals kidnapped, tortured, and murdered under the dictatorship.

Fernando Torres delivers an emotionally compelling performance that draws us in. She captures the passion of Eunice Paiva, which fuels her determination. She deservedly received a nomination for Best Actress at the 2025 Academy Awards. Interestingly, her real-life mother, Fernanda Montenegro, who also appears near the end of the film as an older Eunice, was herself nominated for an Oscar in 1999 for Central Station.

For decades, the full extent of the crimes committed during Brazil’s tyrannical government remained hidden. The administration suppressed evidence, denied abuses, and granted itself amnesty in 1979. It wasn’t until 2014, with the release of the National Truth Commission’s report, that the government officially acknowledged the widespread abuse carried out by the military. Rubens Paiva’s disappearance became one of the most infamous human rights violations of this dictatorship.  His case remains emblematic of the many people who were kidnapped, tortured, and killed during that period.

Missing (1982), The Killing Fields (1984), The Official Story (1985), In the Name of the Father (1993) — I love movies like this because they serve as a fascinating history lesson. These complex political events are made accessible to audiences who might not otherwise be aware of them. The fact that I’m Still Here received Oscar nominations for Picture and International Feature guarantees that this troubling time in Brazil’s past will reach millions more. This is both a personal saga but also a heart-rending political document, bringing global awareness to an injustice that might have been overlooked.

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