I'm Still Here (Ainda Estou Aqui in Portuguese) is a 2024 political biographical drama film directed by Walter Salles based on Marcelo Rubens Paiva's 2015 memoir of the same name. It stars Fernanda Torres as Eunice Paiva, a mother and activist coping with the forced disappearance of her husband, the dissident politician Rubens Paiva (Selton Mello), during the military dictatorship in Brazil.
At the 82nd Golden Globe Awards, Torres won the Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama category. At the 97th Academy Awards, the film was nominated for Best Actress (Torres), Best Picture and won Best International Feature Film, becoming the first-ever Brazilian produced film to win an Academy Award.
In the film, in December 1970, Rubens Paiva lives in an idyllic house near Leblon beach in Rio de Janeiro with his wife Eunice and their five children. He continues to support political expatriates without discussing his activities with his family.
A military raid takes place in Paiva's house, resulting in his arrest and disappearance in January 1971.
Eunice's public inquiries on Rubens' whereabouts result in her arrest and torture for 12 days. She is questioned about whether her husband is involved with pro-democracy movements, which she denies.
A journalist and family friend informs Eunice that Rubens was killed, but the military authorities refuse to confirm it officially. Left to care for her children alone, Eunice sells their home and moves to São Paulo, anticipating a new start close to her maternal family.
Twenty-six years ago, Torres's mother, Fernanda Montenegro, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress (Central Station). She didn't win. All of Brazil was hoping Torres would win this time. But, she didn't. Que pena!
