I'm Still Here

In the early 1970s, Brazil’s sun‑lit coast conceals a tightening grip of authoritarian rule. Within a modest house overlooking Leblon beach, a seemingly ordinary family enjoys the rhythms of everyday life—school mornings, shared meals, and the simple hopes of a modest middle‑class existence. The world outside is increasingly fraught, yet its tension lingers just beyond the open windows, hinting at the fragile peace that can be shattered in a heartbeat.

The story’s emotional anchor is Eunice Paiva, a mother whose nurturing presence steadies the household. She moves between the roles of caretaker, confidante, and quiet observer, holding her children’s futures close while sense of belonging is tested by forces they cannot fully see. Her bond with Rubens Paiva, a husband whose quiet work in the civil service masks deeper convictions, adds a layer of understated complexity, suggesting that love often carries hidden currents in times of unrest.

When an unexpected act of violence pierces the family’s routine, the calm is disturbed, and Eunice is forced to confront a new reality where the familiar comforts of home and community no longer feel secure. The film follows her as she begins to navigate this altered landscape, drawing on inner strength and an emerging resolve to protect and provide for those she loves. Her journey is marked by moments of quiet rebellion, the pursuit of truth, and a steady, determined effort to rebuild a life that has been abruptly upended.

Rendered with a restrained yet lyrical visual style, the movie balances intimate domestic scenes with the broader, oppressive atmosphere of a nation in turmoil. Its tone is contemplative, reverent to the source memoir, and invites viewers to feel the weight of personal loss against a backdrop of political uncertainty. The narrative lingers on the resilience of the human spirit, leaving audiences attuned to the subtle ways ordinary lives are reshaped by extraordinary circumstances.

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 16:49