I’m Still Here (2025) Review

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDunV808Yf4

THE FOLLOWING REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS OF THE DISCUSSED FILM. READERS DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

When your whole world is changed for worse, that doesn’t mean you can’t do something about it. 


PLOT


Based on the titular memoir released in 2015, also known as Ainda Estou Aqui, I’m Still Here begins in December 1970 where Brazilian congressman Rubens Paiva lives in Leblon with his wife Eunice and their five children. When returning to a civil career, he discloses to his family of supporting political expatriates following the ‘64 coup d’état. He even goes out of his way to take in Vera Gasparian, daughter of a family friend who had been military violence in her neighborhood. In January ‘71, his house would be raided and be taken by a military resistance. When Eunice would constantly ask of her husband’s whereabouts, she’d be taken as well, tortured and arrested for 12 days, denying his in involvement of pro democracy movements. Her teenage daughter Eliana would be taken prisoner, but would thankfully be only be released after a day, avoiding the same torture she went through. When a newspaper reports Rubens to have fled into exile, Eunice suspects otherwise and files a habeas corpus petition for what happened, with the assist of her lawyer friend Lino Machado (Thelmo Fernandes). She does learn from another family friend, Bocauiva Cunha (Dan Stulbach) that her husband was in fact secretly helping other exiles and a former teacher named Martha (Carla Ribas), confesses to her being afraid of speaking publicly for being imprisoned with him. After writing a letter of her arrest does she get informed by her family friend Félix that Rubens has been killed and authorities refuses to confirm it. In an effort to keep her family together on her own, Eunice sells the Leblon and moves them all to Sao Paolo with her. She would not get a death certificate for Rubens until ‘96 after Brazil regains democracy, but would still call for reparations of victims’ families who suffered like her and accountability for past crimes of dictatorship. By 2014, she would suffer some Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 85. During a family gathering does she hear a news report of National Truth Commission addressing Rubens’ case, causing her to remember him for a moment. The film ends in an epilogue revealing only five people were identified responsible for Rubens’ murder, but none were prosecuted. Eunice graduated from law school at the age of 48 and became an expert of indigenous rights in Brazil, serving as legal counsel for the likes of World Bank, United Nations & Federal government of Brazil. She would pass away at the age of 89 in 2018. 


THOUGHTS


If there’s one thing I remember about my history classes in high school, I did not get any lessons on Brazil which is weird because that feels like a whole other world. I for one love enjoy movies that give the exact lessons we need to not forget about critical moments of history that have changed/defined the world to this day. This film that released internationally in 2024 and released in the US in ‘25 is indeed a fine example because even moments where countries have setbacks cannot be ignored of such moments as that only means we’re not allowed to learn from it. Director Walter Salles and the writing duo of Murilo Hauser & Heitor Lorena are able to come together in sharing a story that focuses on how it is very important to maintain dignity & hope in any setting that involves facing any kind of injustice including the systemic kind. Fernanda Torres was the driving force in her Oscar nominated & Golden Globe winning performance because she portrays Eunice as a matriarch willing to hold her ground even when it felt like it the odds were against her. I mean it’s hard to not sympathize her when being tortured for two weeks for something she was clueless about. The editing/cinematography combo that went to that portion of the movie put me on the edge of my seat because you just felt it all falling apart for Eunice when she and her kids clearly didn’t deserve it. A part of her can spend her whole time being mad her husband didn’t tell her what he was doing as that could’ve prepared her for the worst. Even if he did, it wouldn’t change the fact his heart was in the right place as we also saw firsthand Selton Mello portray Rubens as the most selfless figure who chose to be a helping hand knowing he can. I think he chose to not tell his family of his good intentions because he didn’t want them to live anticipated of losing him, and rather be grateful of everyday they had him, all the more making it sadder that they couldn’t even bury him. Being aware of this is why Eunice chose to live the rest of her life fighting against the injustice she and many went through, not just for her generation but for many after her in different circumstances. The fact she got a law degree in her late 40s further proved it’s never too late to make personal accomplishments, which certainly inspired her kids to work harder after all they were going through. The fact the kids got to live long lives built on resilience would indeed make their father proud. The ending where an elderly Fernanda Montenegro plays the eldest Eunice and gets to remember the husband she misses warmed my heart because it proves how strong love is when it’s someone you went to hell and back for. In short, I’m Still Here earns the International Feature win and Best Picture  nomination at the 97th Oscars for being an ideal example of the respect that comes from resilience to this day. If you’re into stories that are inspiring from gripping journeys, check this out.