The season of the figurines approaches, and in many categories many have noticed an unexpected suitor: the Brazilian film I am still here (Ainda estou aqui). The film, directed by Walter Salles and taken from the homonymous memoir by Marcelo Rubens Paiva, has been distributed in Italian theatres by BiM since 30 January 2025. The film conquered the Oscar as the best international film arrived on Sky and NOW on Wednesday 27 August 2025 and on Rai 3 Monday 7 September 2026.
Io sono ancora qui: coraggio e fragilità
Rio de Janeiro, 1971. It is the years of military dictatorship, but the Paiva family lives in its peace, finding the way to make their house in front of the sea a happy place of music, plans for the future and lunches with friends. What the rest of the family does not know is that Father Ruben, former Labour MP, retired from political life, continues to secretly help the opposition to the regime. This, at least, until one day the police knock at the door and take Ruben, Eunice and her daughter Eliana. After the infernal days of interrogation Eliana and Eunice are released; Ruben, instead, never returns home, becoming one of too many disaparecidos during the regime.
Eunice therefore finds himself having to carry out the family, finding a way of surviving, accompanying his children in the elaboration of trauma and above all continuing to fight for the truth, tirelessly inciting the government to obtain an official statement on the fate of his husband.
Il genere non fa il monaco
Part of the success of I am still here is ascribable to its membership in the genre of dramatic films engaged in historical context that always make fairy tales to the Oscars. I am still here is a great example of the genre, with all the cards in order to receive even a higher vote from a viewer more passionate than this type of film of me.
The film is also able to remain focused on the human element with patience, taking the right time, knowing when to truncate a sequence and when instead to allow them to breathe. Photography is soft and nostalgic, and all the technical sector can immerse us in the era without even having to think about it. The performance of Fernanda Torres does not need favors from anything and nobody, and well deserves the candidacy
In conclusion, I am still here is a serious film that takes you seriously, but that surely knows how to do well — decidedly recommended to the worshipers of the genre, but not only.
Il cast
Fernanda Torres is Eunice, who finds himself having to take the family rudder to the disappearance of her husband Ruben, interpreted by Selton Mello. Valentina Herzsage plays Veroca, the family’s oldest daughter, who is sent to London to stay safe from the regime, while Luiza Kosowski is the second-born Eliana, arrested and briefly imprisoned with her mother. Barbara Luz, Cora Mora and Guilherme Silveira play Nalu, Maria Beatriz and Marcelo respectively, the children of Paiva.
L’articolo I am still here: review of the Brazilian Oscar award film tonight on TV proviene da Dituttounpop.it.
