Welcome back to the blog readers. As you know, I am currently on a Best Picture Expedition, in which I venture to see all of the Best Picture nominees before the Oscars ceremony so I can discernably give my pick on which film deserves the top prize. I am 70% of the way there right now, and still have a bit of a ways to go. Knowing that this film has been the sentimental favorite to win Best International Feature gave me a bit of hope that this film would be good. Would I be rewarded for my efforts? Stick around to find out.
I'm Still Here (Ainda Estou Aqui) was directed by Walter Salles from a screenplay by Murilo Hauser and Heitor Lorega, based on the autobiography I'm Still Here by Marcelo Rubena Paiva. The film stars Fernanda Torres, Selton Mello, and Fernanda Montenegro. In the film, set against the backdrop of the 1964-1985 military dictatorship in Brazil, Eunice Paiva investigates the forced disappearance of her dissident husband Rubens.
As this film gets me to 80% of my goal, I was looking forward to a film that would emotionally reward me, especially since Fernanda Torres won the Golden Globe for her performance in the film. Besides, I am a sucker for films like this anyway. I love me a good period piece that is based on a true story. But I was not prepared at all for just how emotionally connected to this film I would be. Not that this has ever happened to me or anything, but the filmmakers did an incredible job of making me care about these characters. And Torres absolutely deserves that Golden Globe and her Oscar nomination for sure.
I want to start by talking about the performance of Fernanda Torres as Eunice Paiva. Torres was absolutely a stranger to me before her name was being called by the Golden Globes, and I thought that there would be a chance that win would elevate her to the biggest prize there is. But there is no doubt in my mind after seeing this film that she absolutely deserves that Oscar. This might just be one of the best performances of the year in my opinion, and the level of grace that she is able to bring to this role is something I never expected to see. She is the emotional center of this film, and you feel it whenever she is tasked with bringing it. She was my pick to win the award before I ever saw a single frame of this film, and she is still my pick after seeing this beautiful film.
I also want to talk about the historical relevancy of this film for a minute. I cannot say I am fluent in the realm of foreign affairs and I had no idea there was a military dictatorship in Brazil from 1964 to 1985. Reading a bit more into it is definitely heartbreaking and it is really tough knowing that this was happening. People being forcibly separated from their loved ones, beaten, tortured and murdered is some real heinous shit, especially if all you did was criticize the government. I am so glad that we don't have to deal with that here in America (for now), and I absolutely condemn it happening anywhere in the world. You should be allowed to criticize your own government if you feel it is not acting in your best interests.
In conclusion, I'm Still Here (Ainda Estou Aqui) is am emotional gut-punch of a film that analyzes grief and how that can affect even the best of us, and features an award-worthy performance from Fernanda Torres. Thank you all for reading, and I will see you for the next post.
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