‘I’m Still Here’ Review: Walter Salles’ Love Letter To Brazil Is A Powerful Warning From History – Venice Film Festival
deadline.comAs the title might suggest, Walter Salles’ first dramatic feature in 12 years is ultimately a celebration of Brazil — not only of the resilience of its liberalism under tyrannical rulers, but of its sunlight, its carnival spirit and the delicious blue of the sea that rolls onto Rio de Janeiro’s broad beaches.
I’m Still Here tells the true story of the Paivas and their five children, whose easy, giggling closeness is documented by middle daughter Eliana with her Super 8 camera — the Christmas present of choice in 1970 — in a film we see within the film.
The military dictatorship has its grip on the country. It is an act of rebellion to be happy. So we watch the Paivas, a couple still visibly in love after a few decades of marriage, playing beach volleyball with their children, dad-dancing to pop songs and eating lavish dinners.
Their rented house is already too small for them all, but there are always extra friends at meals; when their son Marcelo scoops up a dog on the beach, it is inevitable that they will adopt it.
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