I'm Still Here (Portuguese: Ainda Estou Aqui) is a 2024 drama film directed by Walter Salles from a screenplay by Murilo Hauser and Heitor Lorega, based on Marcelo Rubens Paiva's 2015 book Ainda Estou Aqui. It stars Fernanda Torres and Fernanda Montenegro as Eunice Paiva, a mother and activist searching for her missing husband, congressman Rubens Paiva, during the Brazilian Military Dictatorship.[1] It is Salles' first Brazilian feature film in 16 years.
| I'm Still Here | |
|---|---|
_poster.jpg) Theatrical release poster | |
| Portuguese | Ainda Estou Aqui |
| Directed by | Walter Salles |
| Screenplay by |
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| Based on | I'm Still Here by Marcelo Rubens Paiva |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Adrian Teijido |
| Music by | Warren Ellis |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Sony Pictures Classics (North America) |
Release dates |
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Running time | 135 minutes |
| Countries |
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| Language | Portuguese |
The film had its world premiere at the 81st Venice International Film Festival,[2] where it received critical acclaim, with unanimous praise towards Torres' performance,[3] and was awarded with the Golden Osella for Best Screenplay.[4] In September 2024, the film was selected as the Brazilian entry for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards.
Plot
editIn 1971 Brazil, the lives of Eunice Paiva and her five children abruptly change after the disappearance of her husband, former Brazilian Labour Party congressman Rubens Paiva.
Cast
edit- Fernanda Torres as Eunice Paiva, mother of Marcelo Rubens Paiva.[5]
- Fernanda Montenegro as Eunice Paiva (older)
- Selton Mello as Rubens Paiva
- Guilherme Silveira as Marcelo Rubens Paiva
- Antonio Saboia as Old Marcelo Rubens Paiva
- Valentina Herszage as Vera Paiva
- Maria Manoella como Old Vera Paiva
- Luiza Kosovski as Eliana Paiva
- Marjorie Estiano as Old Eliana Paiva
- Barbara Luz as Nalu Paiva
- Gabriela Carneiro da Cunha as Old Nalu Paiva
- Cora Mora as Maria Beatriz Facciolla Paiva
- Olívia Torres as Old Maria Beatriz Facciolla Paiva
- Humberto Carrão as Félix
- Maeve Jinkings as Dalva Gasparian
- Caio Horowicz as Ricardo Gomes Pimpão
- Camila Márdila as Dalal Achcar
- Charles Fricks as Fernando Gasparian
- Luana Nastas as Helena Gasparian
- Isadora Ruppert as Laura Gasparian
- Daniel Dantas as Raul Ryff
- Maitê Padilha as Cristina
- Carla Ribas as Martha
Production
editThe screenplay was written by Murilo Hauser and Heitor Lorega, and adapted from the non-fiction memoir book Ainda Estou Aqui by Marcelo Rubens Paiva, Eunice's son. Hauser also co-wrote the screenplay for Karim Ainouz 2019's The Invisible Life of Eurídice Gusmão, based on the same-name novel by Martha Batalha.
Principal photography started in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in June 2023.[6] The film was produced by RT Features and VideoFilmes in co-production with Globoplay, Mact Productions, Conspiração Filmes and Arte France Cinéma.
Release
editIn May 2024, Sony Pictures Classics acquired distribution rights to the film in North America, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Turkey, Portugal, Australia and New Zealand at the Marché du Film.[1]
A few months later, Sony announced it had gained rights for distribution in Brazil, the film was released in September in selected cities around Brazil aiming to attend the Academy Awards rules for the Best International Feature Film race. The film will receive a wide theatrical distribution in Brazil on November 7, 2024.[7]
The film had its world premiere at the 81st Venice International Film Festival, receiving a standing ovation of over 10 minutes,[8] where it was nominated for the Golden Lion[2] and won the Golden Osella for Best Screenplay.[9] It was also screened at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 6, 2024, at the 2024 New York Film Festival[10] and at the 2024 BFI London Film Festival[11] both on October.
Reception
editCritical reception
edit
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 89% of 19 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.10/10.[13] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 79 out of 100, based on 11 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[14]
Accolades
edit| Award | Ceremony date | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venice International Film Festival | 7 September 2024 | Golden Lion | Walter Salles | Nominated | [15] |
| Golden Osella for Best Screenplay | Murilo Hauser and Heitor Lorega | Won | |||
| Green Drop Award | Walter Salles | Won | [16] | ||
| SIGNIS Award | Won | [17] | |||
| Celebration of Latino Cinema & Television | October 22, 2024 | Actress Award – International Film | Fernanda Torres | Honored | [18] |
| Vancouver International Film Festival | October 11, 2024 | Gala & Special Presentations Audience Award | I'm Still Here | Won | [19] |
| Mill Valley Film Festival | October 16, 2024 | Audience Favorite World Cinema | Won | [20] |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Wiseman, Andreas (2024-05-28). "Walter Salles' Directorial Comeback 'I'm Still Here' Sells To Sony Classics For North America & Raft Of International Territories Out Of Cannes Market". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-05-29.
- ^ a b "Biennale Cinema 2024 | Ainda estou aqui (I'm still here)". La Biennale di Venezia. 2024-07-09. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
- ^ Bunbury, Stephanie (2024-09-01). "'I'm Still Here' Review: Walter Salles' Love Letter To Brazil Is A Powerful Warning From History – Venice Film Festival". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
- ^ Tartaglione, Andreas Wiseman, Nancy (2024-09-07). "Venice Winners: Pedro Almodóvar's 'The Room Next Door' Wins The Golden Lion; Also Wins For Nicole Kidman, Brady Corbet, 'I'm Still Here' & More". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Os detalhes do novo filme de Walter Salles com Fernanda Montenegro | Em Cartaz". VEJA (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-05-29.
- ^ Amando, Rodrigo (2023-06-18). "Começam as filmagens do longa "Ainda Estou Aqui", dirigido por Walter Salles". Site RG – Moda, Estilo, Festa, Beleza e mais (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-05-29.
- ^ "Ainda estou aqui". www.filmeb.com.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-10-06.
- ^ Goodfellow, Nancy Tartaglione, Melanie (2024-09-01). "'I'm Still Here' Political Drama Earns 10-Minute Ovation At Venice Film Festival Premiere". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Tartaglione, Andreas Wiseman, Nancy (2024-09-07). "Venice Winners: Pedro Almodóvar's 'The Room Next Door' Wins The Golden Lion; Also Wins For Nicole Kidman, Brady Corbet, 'I'm Still Here' & More". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "I'm Still Here". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
- ^ "I'm Still Here (2024)". BFI London Film Festival. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ maisnovela. "Ovacionada! Fernanda Torres chora após dez minutos de aplausos no Festival de Veneza". Terra (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-09-03.
- ^ "I'm Still Here". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
- ^ "I'm Still Here". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ Vivarelli, Nick; Shafer, Ellise. "Venice Film Festival Lineup: 'Joker 2' With Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, Angelina Jolie's 'Maria' and Luca Guadagnino's Daniel Craig-Led 'Queer' to Debut in Competition". Variety. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
- ^ "Collateral awards of the 81st Venice Film Festival". Retrieved 6 September 2024.
- ^ ""Ainda estou aqui" Wins the SIGNIS Prize at the 81st Venice Film Festival - SIGNIS World". www.signis.world. 2024-09-07. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
- ^ "The Critics Choice Association Announces Full Slate of Honorees for the 4th Annual Celebration of Latino Cinema & Television". www.criticschoice.com. 2024-10-09. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
- ^ Ingenthron, Blair. "VIFF Announces Audience Award Winners". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
- ^ "MVFF47 Audience Favorites". mvff.com. Retrieved 2024-10-23.