"I'm Still Here": On the Dignity of Family [Enokido Ichiro's Film A-Ka-S-T-A-N Vol. 84]

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2025.08.08Enoki Doichirou

I once had a long conversation with the caretaker of my apartment building about the film " Central Station " (1998). It's a Brazilian-French co-production from the 1990s. It received critical acclaim, including the Golden Bear (Best Picture) at the Berlin International Film Festival. The story centers around a woman who works as a ghostwriter for people who can't write at Rio de Janeiro's central station. Due to unavoidable circumstances, she and a nine-year-old boy embark on a journey to find the boy's father. It's a masterpiece that will move anyone who sees it, with its pathos and humanity. However, I think that in all of Tokyo, the caretaker would only tell me so much about the star, Fernanda Montenegro, in my apartment building.

In fact, the Murakami couple, who were live-in caretakers until just three years ago, were of Japanese descent and Brazilian descent. When I first greeted them and asked, "Where did you live before, Murakami-san?", I was surprised when they replied, "Brasilia." Since then, I've frequently visited their office and we've become friends to talk about soccer (Murakami-san and his wife are fans of Flamengo, the prestigious Brazilian club for which Zico played). It was during this relationship that the idea for the film " Central Station " suddenly came up.

He told me it was a huge hit. He told me that there are many boys like Josue (the character in the film) in Brazil, and that this is why the film was so convincing and resonated with the public. Fernanda Montenegro is one of Brazil's leading actresses, having gained popularity on television and then expanding into film and theater. He told me about her appearances in this drama, that comedy, etc., but since I haven't seen them, I don't remember the details. Apparently, the international success of " Central Station " secured her unshakable fame. The Murakamis later returned to Brazil, where Murakamiminho (their grown sons) was waiting for them. I no longer have a chance to chat with them in the apartment building management office, but if they had seen "I'm Still Here" (24), I'm sure they would have told me about Brazil's military dictatorship in the 1970s.

That's right, "I'm Still Here " is directed by Walter Salles, the master behind " Central Station " and " The Motorcycle Diaries " (2004). What's more, Fernanda Montenegro, who won the Silver Bear for Best Actress at the Berlin International Film Festival for "Central Station," plays the same woman as her daughter, Fernanda Torres. It's bound to be fascinating. This accomplished filmmaker worked with a team of talented actors and staff who worked well together. You'll be captivated within the first 10 minutes of the film. A family relaxing on a beach in Rio de Janeiro. A beautiful mom and daughters. An adorable son. A contented dad. The image is so fresh that it almost brings tears to your eyes. It shines like a dream, making you wonder if it's a dream. Or perhaps it's nostalgia (for something you can never get back). Hasn't that happened to you? Looking at the perfect full moon, I felt an ominous feeling that it would soon begin to wane.

"I'm Still Here" depicts the tragedy of one family that occurred under Brazilian military rule. Brazil's military dictatorship lasted for 21 years, from the 1964 coup to 1985, but the film's backdrop is the period when General Emilio Garrastas Medici became president and suppressed dissidents with heavy-handed repression, including the closure of universities and the expulsion of politicians and intellectuals. Of course, the film's main theme is to expose the atrocities of the military dictatorship and depict the desire for democratization, but it does not deliver any loud political Arrival.

It just shows the terror of the family. One day, several men burst into their peaceful home and take the father away, claiming they are there for questioning. The men are in plain clothes and do not look like police officers. They do not have a search warrant, and they are not told what suspicions they are bringing him in. The family is frozen and confused. No one knows what is going on. All they can sense is that something incredibly dangerous is wrong.

The father is a former member of parliament, but has now left politics. He was critical of the military regime, but he was not openly involved in anti-government movements. To his family, he was simply a good father. But then he was taken away, and they were not told at all where he was being held, or what they call "interrogation." It is an overwhelming injustice. With their main breadwinner gone, the family falls into poverty. Director Salles painstakingly shows this. The family lives through this hardship. This is stronger than any political Arrival. We, the audience, are praying, "Live." Don't give up. Live.

"I'm Still Here" is a film about family ties. Even though Dad has been taken away, he doesn't go anywhere. He's still here, in the middle of the family. The family ties are strong, and the military regime can't lay a finger on them. It can't change anyone's way of life. That's what it's all about. I was deeply moved.

Text: Ichiro Enoki

Born in 1959. Born in Akita Prefecture. Debuted in a commercial magazine with ``Takarajima'' in 1980 while studying at Chuo University. Since then, he has serialized columns and essays in various magazines, and continues to this day. Also active on radio and television. Twitter @ichiroenokido

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