"I'm Still Here": A story of a mother and her family standing up against the oppression of the military regime

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2025.08.13Onodera lineage

Synopsis of "I'm Still Here"

In the 1970s, Brazil was under military dictatorship. Former congressman Rubens Paiva and his wife, Eunice, lived a peaceful life in Rio de Janeiro with their five children. However, the atmosphere changed dramatically after the kidnapping of the Swiss ambassador, and military oppression hit the civilians like an avalanche. One day, Rubens was taken away by the military and never heard from again. Suddenly, Eunice's husband was taken away, and she desperately tried to find him, but she herself was eventually detained by the military and subjected to brutal interrogation. Although he was released a few days later, she was never told anything about his whereabouts. Caught between silence and fighting spirit, she continued to call out for her husband. Even though she was deprived of her freedom and pushed to the brink of despair, Eunice's voice eventually transformed into a quiet force that shook the era.

Index

A dark time in sunny Brazil

Brazil is a country that Japanese people have a friendly and positive impression of, with a bright, warm climate, scenic beaches and natural beauty, its reputation as the "kingdom of soccer," samba and carnival culture, and a large Japanese population.

The film I'm Still Here (2024) is based on a real family history and depicts the dark times behind Brazil's cheerful, enjoyable lifestyle, while also hinting at current threats. At the 2025 Academy Awards, it became the first Brazilian film to win the Best International Feature Film award, and was also nominated for Best Picture and Best Actress.

The film depicts a family in the 1970s being destroyed by the government. Brazil was under a military dictatorship following a coup that lasted from 1964 to 1985. Amid this situation, the film's protagonist, Eunise Paiva, lived in Rio de Janeiro with her husband, Rubens Paiva, a former member of parliament, and their five children. Rio is also the city where director Walter Salles was born and raised.

The beautiful Leblon Beach, overlooked by the Twin Mountains, is a popular beach close to her home. Eunise, a strong swimmer, enjoys the sunshine and floating in the waves. Her children, Marcelo and Eliana, are also having fun kicking a ball around and playing beach volleyball. When Marcelo spots a dog, he heads home to ask his father, Rubens, for permission to keep it.

At a house party where everyone has gathered, Rubens' youngest daughter Babiu has a surprise tooth fall out, with Juca Chavis's upbeat number " Take Me Back To Piauí " playing. Rubens and Babiu bury the tooth in the sand on the beach. When Babiu looks away, Rubens quickly removes the tooth. This scene conveys the love a father has for his children and the irreplaceable value of every moment spent with family.

This scene of peace is cut vertically by military helicopters flying overhead and divided horizontally by military trucks. Symbols of anxiety and violence ominously loom beside the family's happiness. Finally, the authorities suspect Rubens of being a rebel and take him into custody. He is a defender of human rights and a critic of the military dictatorship. His wife, Eunice, is also imprisoned.

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