Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres this Friday from director Walter Salles and Sony Picture Classics comes the three Academy Award nominated film of I’M STILL HERE.

It is 1970 Rio de Janeiro and the Paiva family are living close to the beach. Father Rubens (Selton Mello) has brought the family back after being in extended exile after the 1964 Brazilian coup. Wife Eunice (Fernanda Torres) is raising their five children as Rubens takes up his career in engineering. It is slowly becoming clear that the military is around but Rubens and Eunice are focusing on their large family.

When another ambassador is kidnapped, the country starts to show signs of instability. The couple decide that they should sending daughter Vera (Valentina Herszage) abroad with friends. Shortly after, a group of men come to the Paiva home asking that Ruben go in to answer a few questions. Eunice keeps calm but wants to know the reason, instead, the men keep the family inside the home until further notice. That upsets Eliana (Luiza Kosovski), Nalu (Barbara Luz), Marcelo (Guilherme Silveira) and Beatriz (Cora Mora).

Trying to keep their normal routine, even housekeeper Zeze (Pri Helena) noticed what is happening around the home. Unexpectedly, Eunice and Eliana are taken in to answer questions as well and this is where the family’s world turns upside down. Eunice wants to know where her husband is and as time goes by it becomes clear that those who took him refuse to give her any answers.

The family comes together waiting for what could come next with intensity. That’s when Eunice makes decisions to take on the governments denials about her husband and stand up for those who need it the most.

Torres as Eunice is a wife and mother who is happy with her life and love of Rubens. Making plans to build a house in a beautiful part of Rio and taking care of their children, there is no way she could have seen what would be coming. Torres gives us a woman who stands her ground and becomes an activist against all the odds as well as all the dangers. She portrays a woman who, because of what happened, stands those who do wrong to others.

Kosovski as Eliana is a young girl who is brought into a situation of extreme danger that no child should be. She plays the role extremely well as she goes from fun loving kid to dealing with adult madness. Kosovski shows her abilities as a young actress and she is amazing. Herszage as Vera is a young woman about to see the world from outside her own. She shares the joy with her family and Herszage is also shining in this film. Helena as Zeze is completely aware of what is happening and tries her best to keep the children focused on other things. Helena is a strong silent character that is equal in many ways to Eunice  

Luz, Silveira and Mora portray the three other Paiva children that are being protected by their mother about what is happening in their family, as they should be. I would think (at least I would) protect the young from knowing that their world is not a safe place.

Other cast include Fernanda Montenegro as older Eunice, Maria Manoella as older Vera, Antonio Saboia as older Marcelo, Humberto Carrao as Felix, Maeve Jinkings as Dalva, Caio Horowicz as Ricardo, Camila Mardila as Dalar, Charles Fricks as Fernando, Luana Nastas as Helena, Isadora Ruppert as Laura, Daniel Dantas as Raul, Maite Padilha as Cristina, Carla Ribas as Martha, Dan Stulbach as Bocaiuva, Marjorie Estiano as older Eliana, Gabriela Cunha as older Nalu, Olivia Torres as older Maria,

Sony Pictures Classics brings television, digital content, new entertainment services, independent films and technologies to viewers. Such films as GREED, THE BURNT ORANGE HERESY, THE CLIMB, CHARM CITY KINGS, I CARRY YOU WITH ME and THE FATHER are just a few of the current and upcoming releases. For more information on what Sony Pictures Classics has to offer please visit www.sonyclassics.com.

I’M STILL HERE has been nominated for Best International Feature Film, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role and Best Motion Picture of the Year by the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes gave Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama to Fernanda Torres, A Satellite Award for Best Actress for Fernanda Torres, and the Miami Film Festival gives Director Walter Salles the Audience Award, National Board of Review and Palm Springs International Film Festival awards Walter Salles their prize. This is only a small list of wins and nominations for the film.

Every actor gives a beautiful performance in this film based on the book Ainda Estou Aqui (I’m Still Here) written by Marcelo Rubens Paiva’s 2015 memoir. Torres leads the ensemble with brilliance and although her emotions aren’t outward, they certainly are in her eyes and every step she takes. Based on the reality of the Paiva’s family, the film is striking in every way and, if one were to think about it, a frightening possibility at any time in any country.

Director Salles doesn’t hide anything about this story but instead dives into the deep end of the ocean with the power of family, one woman’s fight against a corrupt government, and the hope that is held by them all. Watching Torres as Eunice, we get a mama bear mixed with a woman dealing with her own fears and grief. I don’t believe anyone with a heart could walk away from this film not being touched in so many ways.

In the end – she will fight the injustice!

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