TIFF 2024 Review: I’m Still Here -“a chilling reminder of the abuses done under the name of law and order”

The idealistic existence of Eunice Paiva and her five children is thrown into turmoil when her husband and former congressman Ruben Paiva is taken away by the Brazilian army in 1971 and is never seen again.

Life is carefree and fun for the children of caring parents Ruben and Eunice Paiva who rent a beachside house in Rio de Janeiro.  However, a dark undercurrent emerges as television newscasts report that the Swiss ambassador has been kidnapped and the eldest Paiva’s daughter Vera and her friends are treated roughly doing a military checkpoint.  Then there is the matter of Ruben receiving mysterious packages that capture the attention of the military dictatorship and is taken into custody soon followed by Eunice and their second eldest daughter.  Whereas the latter are eventually released, the former congressman is never seen again and the government denies that he was ever arrested.

The love for filmmaking and music is epitomized by Vera Paiva making home movies which gives the footage a sense of nostalgia, warmth and playfulness that epitomizes the family life.  The contrast between privilege and the impending storm is demonstrated in the opening shot when Eunice Paiva is floating in the water when a military helicopter flies overhead.  The acting is solid creating a believable family dynamic while the officers of the military dictatorship are given a menacing quality which is emphasized further with a training chant that talks about bashing in the heads of those who oppose the regime.

As much as Walter Salles showcases his prowess as a director, the one area which is to be called into question is the length of time it takes to get to the detainment of Ruben Paiva which is the inciting incident that drives the narrative forward and the two significant time jumps which emphasize the length of the struggle to uncover the truth but feel more like add-ons.  Needless to say, the story is a chilling reminder of the abuses done under the name of law and order leading to disappearances that have scarred not only families but the national psyche of Brazil.

The 49th Toronto International Film Festival runs September 5-15, 2024, and for more information visit tiff.net.    

Trevor Hogg is a freelance video editor and writer who currently resides in Canada; he can be found at LinkedIn.