I'm Still Here

Tropic Sprockets by Ian Brockway

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“I’m Still Here” by director Walter Salles focuses on the apprehensive plight of Rubens Paiva during a dictatorship in 1970s Brazil. Congressman Paiva was a Brazilian civil engineer and politician. The film is suspenseful, deep in thought and never softens its imagery.

One night in 1970, a young Vera (Valentina Herszage) is out with her boyfriend, and they get stopped by the military. Following questioning, Vera is relieved. The next morning, men arrive at the door of Vera’s home and order the father Rubens Paiva (Selton Mello) to get dressed and go to headquarters. The Paiva family is taken aback, but assume it is no worry. When Rubens is taken alone, Eunice (Fernanda Torres), his wife, understandably horrified, is driven to find answers.

First and foremost, the film has a Kafka-like quality. Rubens enjoys the good life. He has parties. He entertains many. His children go to school and aspire to live abroad, embracing liberal ideas of education, equality, and altruism.

Then the military arrives, only to downplay their enquiry, while Eunice offers them lunch. As a result of Eunice’s persistent questioning both she and Eliana (Luiza Kosovski) are taken to the barracks. Eliana is released, but Eunice is imprisoned for twelve days.

Compelling it is to see Eunice get stonewalled and dismissed time after time. It is also frustrating and visceral in its sadness. The film is reminiscent of the work of Costa-Gavras most tellingly the film “Z” (1969).

As well as intrigue, this is also a vivid portrait of a family progressive and full of hope. The children fully partake in the carnival of life, the joy of music and the creative imagination. They adore literature and The Beatles. This makes the suppression of the Paiva Family all the more horrifying.

Through it all, most of the family endured, living on to take photograph after photograph at every stage in life, in absolute defiance—proof of life. Rubens Paiva was tortured and killed shortly after being taken. His body was never found.

Write Ian at ianfree11@yahoo.com