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I'm Still Here (2024 film)

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I'm Still Here
Theatrical release poster
PortugueseAinda Estou Aqui
Directed byWalter Salles
Screenplay by
  • Murilo Hauser
  • Heitor Lorega
Based onI'm Still Here
by Marcelo Rubens Paiva
Produced by
  • Maria Carlota Fernandes
  • Walter Salles
  • Rodrigo Teixeira
Starring
CinematographyAdrian Teijido
Edited byAffonso Gonçalves
Music byWarren Ellis
Production
companies
Distributed bySony Pictures Releasing (Brazil)
Release dates
  • 1 September 2024 (2024-09-01) (Venice)
  • 7 November 2024 (2024-11-07) (Brazil)
Running time
135 minutes
Countries
  • Brazil
  • France
LanguagePortuguese
BudgetR$8 million (US$1.48 million)[1]
Box officeUS$6.6 million[2]

I'm Still Here (Portuguese: Ainda Estou Aqui) is a 2024 political biographical 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.[3]

The film had its world premiere at the 81st Venice International Film Festival,[4] where it received critical acclaim, with unanimous praise towards Torres' performance,[5] and was awarded the Best Screenplay prize.[6] In September 2024, the film was selected as the Brazilian entry for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards.[7]

Plot

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Brazil, 1971, 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

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Production

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The screenplay was written by Murilo Hauser and Heitor Lorega, and adapted from the memoir Ainda Estou Aqui by Marcelo Rubens Paiva, Eunice's son. Hauser also co-wrote the screenplay for Karim Aïnouz's The Invisible Life of Eurídice Gusmão (2019), based on the novel of the same name by Martha Batalha.

Principal photography began in June 2023 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.[9] The film was produced by RT Features and VideoFilmes in co-production with Globoplay, Mact Productions, Conspiração Filmes and Arte France Cinéma.

Release

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In 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.[3]

The film had its world premiere at the 81st Venice International Film Festival, receiving a standing ovation of over 10 minutes,[10] where it was nominated for the Golden Lion[4] and won the Best Screenplay prize.[11] It was also screened at the Toronto International Film Festival on 6 September 2024, at the 2024 New York Film Festival[12] and at the 2024 BFI London Film Festival[13] both in October.

Shortly after, Sony announced it had gained distribution rights in Brazil. The film was released in September in selected Brazilian cities aiming to qualify for the Best International Feature Film race at the 97th Academy Awards, and later received a wide theatrical release on 7 November 2024.[14]

The film will have its North American premiere in 17 January 2025, in New York and Los Angeles, followed by a wide release on 14 February 2025.[15]

Reception

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Box office

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On its opening day in Brazil, I'm Still Here brought 50,320 people to the cinemas, grossing R$1.1 million.[16] In its first weekend, even though it was the target of a frustrated boycott by the Brazilian far-right,[17] the film debuted in first place at the box office with 358,000 admissions, earning R$8.6 million, overcoming Venom: The Last Dance third week (R$6.6 million) and Red One first weekend (R$5.3 million).[18]

Critical response

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Fernanda Torres' performance received widespread critical acclaim, with many considering it one of the best of the year.[19]

I'm Still Here received overwhelming praise upon release by the public, film critics and the Brazilian and international press; praise was mainly directed to Fernanda Torres' performance.[20]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 91% of 23 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.1/10.[21] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 79 out of 100, based on 11 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[22] Jessica Kiang of Variety praised the film and its dramatic charge: "Classical in form but radical in empathy, I'm Still Here arguably does not need the follow-up sections—one set in 1996 and the other in 2014—that somewhat alter the emotional rhythm. But on the other hand, these characters are so vivid that we don't want to leave them either".[23] For Wendy Ide of Screen Daily, Salles "never over-labours the film's emotional beats, relying instead on Torres' magnificent, intricately layered performance to drive the picture"; she also praised Montenegro, "who has a brief but exceptionally powerful cameo here as the elderly Eunice".[24]

Several international outlets applauded Fernanda Torres' work, with Collider considering it one of the best performances of the year, being "more than deserving of an Oscar nomination".[25] In her review for Deadline, Stephanie Bunbury describes the film as a "celebration of Brazil", and praises Torres, stating that the actress "has an emotional delicacy as Eunice that conveys, through the smallest and subtlest signals, what it costs her to hold back her anxiety and anger for the sake of her family. It is a performance that should catapult her into the awards race, 25 years after her mother Fernanda Montenegro was Oscar-nominated for Salles' breakthrough feature, Central Station".[26] David Rooney in The Hollywood Reporter highlighted the relationship between Montenegro and Torres, saying "What makes the connection even more poignant is that she appears as the elderly, infirm version of the protagonist", and recognized I'm Still Here as "a gripping, profoundly touching film with a deep well of pathos. It's one of Salles' best".[27] For IndieWire, Leila Latif says Torres' performance "is as spectacular as her filmography would suggest, having marked herself out as one of the South American continent's greatest actors in roles in Foreign Land (also directed by Salles) and won a Palme d'Or for Best Actress in Love Me Forever of Never. Her Eunice possesses phenomenal strength and stoicism which make each moment of pain that peep through the chinks of her armor all the more moving", and praised her on-screen interaction with Selton Mello.[28]

Accolades

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Award Ceremony date Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Venice International Film Festival 7 September 2024 Golden Lion Walter Salles Nominated [29]
Best Screenplay Murilo Hauser and Heitor Lorega Won
Green Drop Award Walter Salles Won [30]
SIGNIS Award Won [31]
Celebration of Latino Cinema & Television 22 October 2024 Actress Award – International Film Fernanda Torres Honored [32]
Vancouver International Film Festival 11 October 2024 Gala & Special Presentations Audience Award I'm Still Here Won [33]
Mill Valley Film Festival 16 October 2024 Audience Favorite World Cinema Won [34]
Pingyao International Film Festival 18 October 2024 Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon East-West Award Walter Salles Honored [35]
São Paulo International Film Festival 30 October 2024 Audience Award – Best Brazilian Fiction I'm Still Here Won [36]
Miami Film Festival 7 November 2024 Audience Award I'm Still Here Won [37]
Astra Film Awards December 8, 2024 Best International Feature I'm Still Here Pending [38]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "AINDA ESTOU AQUI - CinePOP Cinema" (in Brazilian Portuguese). 7 November 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  2. ^ "I'm Still Here". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  3. ^ a b Wiseman, Andreas (28 May 2024). "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 29 May 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Biennale Cinema 2024 | Ainda estou aqui (I'm still here)". La Biennale di Venezia. 9 July 2024. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  5. ^ Bunbury, Stephanie (1 September 2024). "'I'm Still Here' Review: Walter Salles' Love Letter To Brazil Is A Powerful Warning From History – Venice Film Festival". Deadline. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  6. ^ Tartaglione, Andreas Wiseman, Nancy (7 September 2024). "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 7 September 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ "Brazil picks "I'm Still Here" for the 2025 Oscar race". Agência Brasil. 24 September 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  8. ^ "Os detalhes do novo filme de Walter Salles com Fernanda Montenegro | Em Cartaz". VEJA (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  9. ^ Amando, Rodrigo (18 June 2023). "Começam as filmagens do longa "Ainda Estou Aqui", dirigido por Walter Salles". Site RG – Moda, Estilo, Festa, Beleza e mais (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  10. ^ Goodfellow, Nancy Tartaglione, Melanie (1 September 2024). "'I'm Still Here' Political Drama Earns 10-Minute Ovation At Venice Film Festival Premiere". Deadline. Retrieved 1 September 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ Tartaglione, Andreas Wiseman, Nancy (7 September 2024). "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 7 September 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ "I'm Still Here". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  13. ^ "I'm Still Here (2024)". BFI London Film Festival. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  14. ^ "Ainda estou aqui". www.filmeb.com.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  15. ^ "I'm Still Here | Sony Pictures Classics". sonyclassics.com. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  16. ^ "Ainda Estou Aqui bate R$ 1 milhão em bilheteria em sua data de estreia". Metrópoles (in Brazilian Portuguese). 8 November 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  17. ^ "Perfis de direita pregam boicote a 'Ainda Estou Aqui' nas redes". F5 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 12 November 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  18. ^ "'Ainda Estou Aqui' estreia na liderança da bilheteria nacional e arrecada R$ 8,6 milhões | Cinema". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 11 November 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  19. ^ maisnovela. "Ovacionada! Fernanda Torres chora após dez minutos de aplausos no Festival de Veneza". Terra (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  20. ^ "Atuação de Fernanda Torres em 'Ainda Estou Aqui' é elogiada por crítica internacional: 'Deve catapultá-la a prêmios' | Cinema". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2 September 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  21. ^ "I'm Still Here". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  22. ^ "I'm Still Here". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  23. ^ Kiang, Jessica (1 September 2024). "'I'm Still Here' Review: Walter Salles' Profoundly Moving Sense-Memory Portrait of a Family — and a Nation — Ruptured". Variety. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  24. ^ Ide, Wendy. "'I'm Still Here': Venice Review". Screen Daily. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  25. ^ Kiely, Emma (11 October 2024). "'I'm Still Here' Review: Family Political Drama Is One of the Year's Best | LFF 2024". Collider. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  26. ^ Bunbury, Stephanie (1 September 2024). "'I'm Still Here' Review: Walter Salles' Love Letter To Brazil Is A Powerful Warning From History – Venice Film Festival". Deadline. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  27. ^ Rooney, David (1 September 2024). "'I'm Still Here' Review: Walter Salles Returns Home With the Powerful Story of a Broken Family's Resistance". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  28. ^ Latif, Leila (1 September 2024). "'I'm Still Here' Review: The Legacy of Rubens Paiva Is Further Fortified by Walter Salles' Loving Biopic". IndieWire. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  29. ^ 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.
  30. ^ "Collateral awards of the 81st Venice Film Festival". Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  31. ^ ""Ainda estou aqui" Wins the SIGNIS Prize at the 81st Venice Film Festival - SIGNIS World". www.signis.world. 7 September 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  32. ^ "The Critics Choice Association Announces Full Slate of Honorees for the 4th Annual Celebration of Latino Cinema & Television". www.criticschoice.com. 9 October 2024. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  33. ^ Ingenthron, Blair. "VIFF Announces Audience Award Winners". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  34. ^ "MVFF47 Audience Favorites". mvff.com. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  35. ^ "8th Pingyao Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon International Film Festival". www.asianmoviepulse.com. 18 October 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  36. ^ "48th Mostra". 47.mostra.org. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  37. ^ "11th Annual". 47.mostra.org. 7 November 2024. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
  38. ^ "'Wicked' Leads Nominations for Astra Film Awards". Retrieved 25 November 2024.
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