Film Review - I’m Still Here

Images courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing.

Brazilian fever has taken over the 2025 awards season, with I’m Still Here nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actress and Best International Feature. Lead actress Fernanda Torres also won the Golden Globe for Best Female Actor in a Motion Picture (Drama). So, does the highly acclaimed historical drama actually live up to all the hype? Don’t worry, this isn’t another Emilia Pérez situation, as I’m Still Here is the real deal. 

I’m Still Here is based on the autobiography of Marcelo Rubens Paiva, which recounts the experience of his mother trying to hold their family together, under the military dictatorship in Brazil during the early 1970s. In the film, Eunice Paiva (Torres) is a mother to five children and married to former congressman Rubens Paiva (Selten Mello), who is now an engineer and outspoken critic of the dictatorship. They lead a happy family life full of love and laughter. However, Brazil’s military is tightening its violent grip on its citizens. One afternoon, Rubens is taken from his home for questioning by the government, and is never seen again. As her family’s world is shattered to pieces, Eunice does everything in her power to find out what happened to Rubens. The government denies that Rubens was ever arrested, so Eunice must find evidence to support the truth. All the while, she tries to stay strong for her children, who are dealing with the loss of their father, and protect them from the grim reality of the situation. 

Eunice’s journey makes for an emotional rollercoaster that is utterly heartbreaking and frustrating to watch. From the moment a group of mysterious men come to her front door and take Rubens, she has no control over her actions and must simply follow orders if she wants to stay alive. She and her daughter are also kidnapped, though they are eventually sent home. They witness and are subjected to isolation and torture by the government, and the film doesn’t hold back from highlighting the atrocities committed. Everything is beautifully anchored by Torres’s magnificent lead performance, which is equally stoic and vulnerable as she commands each scene. The strength of her character is remarkable, and Torres authentically and empathetically honours the real life Paiva. 

While I’m Still Here has a political backdrop, it is ultimately a moving portrait of the strength of family and what happens when it is torn apart. While Eunice is at the centre of everything, the effect the situation has on her children is just as important. The film is full of sadness and loss, but what really leaves a sharp pang in the chest is the lack of closure this family must accept. Eunice’s search spreads over decades, and it is very difficult to mourn a person when their disappearance is unexplained and there is no body to identify. This is something the audience feels deeply along with Eunice and her family. 

While I’m Still Here is quite simple in terms of filmmaking, it is elevated by its incredible performances, storytelling and authentic portrayal of the time period. If the film has any faults, there were a few times it seemed the movie was going to finish and didn’t, making it feel just a tad drawn out. Otherwise, I’m Still Here is an absolute triumph.

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I’m Still Here is screening in cinemas now. For tickets and more info, click here.