Movie Review: I'm Still Here (Ainda Estou Aqui )

 

Michael's Movie Grade: A+

A masterpiece, probably the best film of 2024. 

This film has Brazilian filmmaker, Walter Salles, returning to his native country with a story he has a personal connection to. This is the true story of a family living a happy life in 1970's Rio de Janeiro, when one day the father (former congressman Rubens Paiva, who has been outspokenly critical of the newly instituted military dictatorship) simply disappears. There is no explanation given to why this happened and where the father is or if he is still alive. Though this movie is based on Marcelo Rubens Paiva (one of the son's) memoir (which is also called I'm Still Here), one of the guiding forces behind making this film is that Salles actually knew this family as a teenager and even spent time in their house (which he tried to recreate the look of as closely as possible). Perhaps this is why this film feels more real than many "based on a true story" movies.

What makes this movie work so brilliantly is the family unit. In every second of this film, we believe that we are watching the real family. Each member has his or her own unique personality. It is too often in movies like this that one character simply feels like their entire personality is being "the other kid." That never the case here. Part of the reason for this is that Salles encouraged each of the child actors to let their own personalities find their way into the film. They each decorated their own rooms and were allowed some of their own improvisational dialogue. Salles also had all the actors playing the family live together (in the home he rented for production) for two weeks. The result is characters that feel as comfortable around each other as real family members. The chemistry between each of the actors is so natural that we feel like we are watching a real family and forget that these are actors. Because the family unit feels so real to us, when that family unit is forcibly torn apart, we feel unnerved. The result is very emotional powerful. We feel for each of the characters and their loss, just as if they were our friends. 

This movie also benefits from a very strong soundtrack filled with Brazilian, American and British pop songs of the era. Each of these songs are used perfectly and many reveal more about who these are. The film is also very visually beautiful as Salles does his best to recapture the look of 1970's Rio De Janeiro.

I don't want to say too much more about this movie as it something you have to see and experience yourself. It is a one-of-a-kind experience and a must watch for any serious movie fan.