I'm Still Here

I’m Still Here opens with scenes of an extended family playing on the beach in Brazil. A block or two away, the rest of its members enjoy drinking and socializing in their beautiful, spacious home, which is lined with books and artwork. A military dictatorship is occurring in the country, but it clearly hasn’t had a significant impact on the well-to-do clan. The merriment will not last much longer, as their lives are about to change in a horrific manner. Based on a true story, director Walter Sallas' latest effort documents what occurs when tragedy strikes.

The patriarch of the family is Rubens Paiva (Selton Mello), a former congressman who has just returned from six years of self-imposed political exile. Now working in the private sector, he continues to support groups opposing the dictatorship, unbeknownst to his wife Eunice (Fernanda Torres). Rubens is taken for questioning by the authorities yet isn’t brought back. Eunice tries to shield their five children from the reality that he may never return. Her challenge becomes maintaining stability within the family unit while attempting to learn her husband’s whereabouts.

Watching I’m Still Here gives you a nauseous feeling in your gut because you understand what the worst-case scenario is and how it will impact the children if it comes to pass. Part of it also comes from the fact that Torres conveys how nauseous the scenario makes Eunice feel in her gut. The difference is that she can’t openly express it. The actress is extraordinary in portraying how this woman compartmentalizes her feelings, putting on a brave face for the kids while internally crumbling. Best of all, her whole performance has a sense of subtlety that’s quite powerful. No scenery-chewing here, just a detailed depiction of a woman in crisis.

The family dynamics are compelling throughout, especially as the eldest daughter develops awareness of the situation’s peril. Political suspense is abundant, too. Salles takes care in showing the details of an encroaching dictatorship, where individual rights are stripped away and anyone who refuses to comply ends up with a target on their back. Eunice is hauled in for questioning later, under the assumption that she knows everything about her husband’s dealings. A vibe of paranoia runs through the story, as the military’s constant suspiciousness puts all the characters in potential danger.

Parallels between the Paiva clan and Brazil itself are obvious. Both are in a period of great instability. I’m Still Here illustrates how they’re tied together and how growing turmoil in the country creates more turmoil in the family. That makes the film astute on political and personal levels. Given how our world leadership often seems to be leaning in increasingly extreme directions, it gets you thinking about what the cost of that might be.

Similarly, Eunice’s journey gets you thinking about how important family is and how potent it can be when the members of a family come together in difficult times. The story jumps forward several decades at the end, letting us witness the results of the character’s ardent protectiveness of her children. No sane person could walk away from the movie untouched.


out of four

I'm Still Here is rated PG-13 for thematic content, some strong language, drug use, smoking, and brief nudity. The running time is 2 hours and 16 minutes.


© 2025 Mike McGranaghan