I'm Still Here

 

        Directed by Walter Salles from a memoir by Marcelo Rubens Paiva, this new biographical drama takes place during the dictatorship regime in Brazil during the 1970's. 

         Rubens and Eunice Paiva have five children and live in a lovely house at the beach in Rio De Janeiro. Rubens is a retired congressman working in a civil engineering job. They are a tight knit family with obvious love for each other. Their house is often filled with friends and family. One day government men come and take Rubens away for "questioning". It is then up to Eunice to learn what happened to her husband while keeping her family together (even while she holds back her own anxiety and anger) in his absence.

        The film stars Fernanda Torres as Eunice and she has already won a well- deserved Golden Globe for her wonderful performance. Selton Mello plays Rubens. Their children are played by Guiherme Silveria as Marcelo (later, Antonio Saboia as an adult), Valentina Herszage as Vera (later, Maria Manoella as an adult), Luiza Kosovski as Eliana (later, Marjorie Estiano as an adult), Barbara Luz as Nalu (later, Gabriela Carneiro as an adult), and Cora Mora as Maria (later, Oliva Torres as an adult). Late in the film, Fernanda Montenegro (Ms. Torres real mother) plays an elderly Eunice, and even while suffering from Alzheimer's, she has one amazing moment of clarity.

       Mr. Salles actually knew the family and had spent time in their house as a young teenager. You can feel the warmth and love in his direction in every shot because of this relationship. His scenic designer faithfully recreates the house based on Mr. Paiva's memoir and Mr. Salles's memory. The house itself, becomes another character, brought to life as a sixth member of the family. The acting is so effortless, it's like watching a documentary rather than a scripted film.

       While the story may be tragic, Ms. Torres's love and resilience keep her family together and even in the face of despair, it is a profoundly moving film.