INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
TEHRAN- Im Still Here, a 2024 political biographical drama film by Brazilian filmmaker Walter Salles, was reviewed throughout a session at
the Cinematheque of the Iranian Artists Forum (IAF) on Sunday.Iranian film critic Esmaeil Mihandoost attended a screening of the movie
followed by an evaluation session
Im Still Here informs the story of Rubens Paiva, a Brazilian civil servant and political activist, set against the background of the
overbearing military program following the 1964 coup dtat
Residing in a stunning home near Leblon beach with his spouse Eunice and their 5 kids, Rubens quietly supports political exiles while
attempting to keep a form of normalcy in his family life
The political climate grows significantly unstable after the kidnapping of the Swiss ambassador, prompting their friends Fernando and Dalva
to get away to London, taking their eldest daughter Vera with them.The familys world shatters when a military raid leads to Rubenss arrest
in January 1971, after which he disappears without a trace
Eunices desperate public inquiries about her husbands fate result in her own arrest and 12 days of torture, while their teenage daughter
Eliana is quickly imprisoned.As Eunice deals with relentless questioning about Rubenss political activities, she stays unfaltering in her
denial of his involvement with pro-democracy motions
In spite of incorrect reports suggesting that Rubens has fled Brazil, Eunice and her allies presume the reality is even more sinister.With
the assistance of attorney Lino Machado, Eunice files a habeas corpus petition and discovers that Rubens had actually been secretly helping
A former inmate, Martha, validates Rubenss imprisonment but fears for her security if she speaks out.Eventually, journalist Felix informs
Eunice that Rubens has been eliminated, although the military declines to acknowledge this officially
Delegated raise her kids alone, Eunice sells their home and moves to So Paulo, looking for a fresh start.Fast forward to 1996, Eunice gets
Rubenss main death certificate from the now-democratic Brazilian state and requires reparations and responsibility for the dictatorships
By 2014, at 85 years old and suffering from Alzheimers disease, she is surrounded by household when news of the National Truth Commission
triggers a flicker of memory regarding her past.The movie concludes with plain discoveries about Rubenss murder at the DOI-CODI head office
and highlights Eunices exceptional journey as she becomes an appreciated expert on native rights before her passing in 2018 at age 89
Im Still Here strongly encapsulates styles of strength, loss, and the sustaining mission for justice in the face of political injustice
Im Still Here achieved remarkable financial success, grossing $35.7 million and ending up being the highest-grossing Brazilian movie given
that the COVID-19 pandemic.The film debuted at the Venice International Film Festival in 2024, where it received widespread recognition and
won the Best Screenplay award
It was named among the Top five International Films of 2024 by the National Board of Review
At the Golden Globe Awards, its star Fernanda Torres took home the Best Actress award
The film was likewise nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, where it won Best International Feature Film, marking a historical win for
This short article very first appeared/also appeared in Tehran Times
