Pop Commentary

I’m not usually someone who enjoys reading subtitles, but they were worth sitting through for the marvelous new film “I’m Still Here.”

The Brazilian movie is nominated for Best Picture, Best International Feature, and the star of the film, Fernanda Torres, is a serious contender for Best Actress. It’s actually the first Brazilian-produced film to ever be nominated for the top Academy Award.

“I’m Still Here” is set in 1971 when Brazil was facing the tightening grip of a military dictatorship. Amid that turmoil, Torres’ character is forced to reinvent herself and protect her five children after her husband, a former politician, is arrested during a raid and they lose contact with him.

The film is based on a biographical book written by the couple’s son and tells the true story that helped reconstruct an important part of Brazil’s hidden history.

I went into the theater with high expectations. An international film has to be pretty amazing for it to be nominated for Best Picture. Luckily, I wasn’t let down. I found the story extremely moving. I liked that we got to see the story of the family that the father was forced to leave behind. Normally, a movie would follow the person who was arrested and their loved ones would be an afterthought. Here, that’s flipped on its head.

While the film’s premise is heartbreaking, I didn’t actually find myself feeling that sad while watching it. I felt more uplifted about how the family cared for each other in the aftermath of the arrest. It made me want to call my family when it was over.

I’m also a sucker for a film set in the 1970s. I loved being dropped into that decade with its fabulous fashion and music. It was even more interesting to see that era in Brazil. That backdrop was complemented by the beautiful cinematography. I especially liked when the filmmakers spliced in shots filmed on an old film camera to look like home movies. It gave the film more character and depth.

One of the few critiques I have for the film involves the story structure. Specifically, there are a couple time jumps at the end that I think could have been handled differently. First, you jump to 1996 where you get an update on where the family is and then you jump again to 2014 where you get another update. I think the film’s ending would have been more impactful if the second time jump was cut and it ended with the news that the main character receives in the ‘90s.

As for the acting, Torres was fantastic, though her performance was more subtle than I thought it would be given that she’s been praised so much this award season. Still, I think she has a real shot at winning Best Actress this year, especially after winning the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama. Though, none of the other actresses in that category are nominated at the Oscars. My money is still on Demi Moore for “The Substance,” but I think Torres could upset her. 

This film is also pretty bleak, given the subject matter. There are only a few light points sprinkled throughout the movie. I think it could have benefited from including a couple more comedic moments, just to bring some levity to the film that runs more than two hours.

Honestly, I originally just saw this movie because I try to see all of the Best Picture nominees before the Academy Awards. However, now I would suggest the film to everyone, even if they’re not interested in the Oscars. It’s a powerful true story about a fraught time in Brazil’s history, which Americans haven’t heard that much about. I think you’ll like it if you enjoy family dramas and appreciate learning lessons from history that can be applied to today.

I’d also recommend seeing it in theaters, so you’re forced to pay attention to all the subtitles. If you’re like me, you would get distracted and pay less attention to the movie if you watched it at home.