I'm Still Here (2024 film)

I'm Still Here
Brazilian 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
Music byWarren Ellis
Production
companies
Distributed bySony Pictures Releasing (Brazil)
Release dates
  • September 1, 2024 (2024-09-01) (Venice)
  • November 7, 2024 (2024-11-07) (Brazil)
Running time
135 minutes
Countries
  • Brazil
  • France
LanguagePortuguese

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]

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 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

In 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

Production

The 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

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.[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

Critical reception

Fernanda Torres' performance received widespread critical acclaim.[12]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 91% of 23 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

Award Ceremony date Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Venice International Film Festival 7 September 2024 Golden Lion Walter Salles Nominated [15]
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]
Pingyao International Film Festival October 18, 2024 Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon East-West Award Walter Salles Honored [21]
São Paulo International Film Festival October 30, 2024 Audience Award - Best Brazilian Fiction I'm Still Here Won [22]

See also

References

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ a b "Biennale Cinema 2024 | Ainda estou aqui (I'm still here)". La Biennale di Venezia. 2024-07-09. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ 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)
  5. ^ "Os detalhes do novo filme de Walter Salles com Fernanda Montenegro | Em Cartaz". VEJA (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-05-29.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ "Ainda estou aqui". www.filmeb.com.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  8. ^ 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)
  9. ^ 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)
  10. ^ "I'm Still Here". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  11. ^ "I'm Still Here (2024)". BFI London Film Festival. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  12. ^ maisnovela. "Ovacionada! Fernanda Torres chora após dez minutos de aplausos no Festival de Veneza". Terra (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-09-03.
  13. ^ "I'm Still Here". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  14. ^ "I'm Still Here". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ "Collateral awards of the 81st Venice Film Festival". Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  17. ^ ""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.
  18. ^ "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.
  19. ^ Ingenthron, Blair. "VIFF Announces Audience Award Winners". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  20. ^ "MVFF47 Audience Favorites". mvff.com. Retrieved 2024-10-23.
  21. ^ "8th Pingyao Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon International Film Festival". www.asianmoviepulse.com. 2024-10-18. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
  22. ^ "48th Mostra". 47.mostra.org. Retrieved 2024-11-04.