Film Review: I’m Still Here (BRA 2024) by Walter Salles

Content:  In this podcast, we talk about the Brazilian film “I’m Still Here” (BRA 2024), directed by Walter Salles.  The film is based on Marcelo Rubens Paiva's memoirs and depicts the forced disappearance of politician Rubens Paiva during Brazil's 1970s military dictatorship and his wife Eunice's subsequent search for answers.  While acknowledging the importance of the subject matter and the quality of production, we criticize the film for its lack of dramatic tension, emotional depth, and excessive length, ultimately finding it bland and uninspired compared to other films addressing similar historical events.  Plot:  In 1970s Rio de Janeiro, the Paiva family lives under the growing repression of a military dictatorship. One day, former politician Rubens Paiva is taken away by authorities and disappears without a trace. His wife Eunice (Fernanda Torres) must somehow provide for herself and their five children while tirelessly searching for answers. Based on Marcelo Rubens Paiva's memoirs, the film reveals a hidden chapter of Brazil's history.