Story
In early-1970s Brazil, a military dictatorship casts a long shadow over daily life. In Rio de Janeiro, the Paiva family maintains an open, welcoming home by the beach, surrounded by friends and the lively presence of five children. Their sense of security is broken when Rubens Paiva is taken away for questioning and fails to return. Eunice is left to face uncertainty while protecting her family and searching for answers in a country where fear reaches into private homes.
As the family struggles with the consequences of Rubens’s disappearance, personal grief becomes inseparable from the wider political reality. The story follows their resilience and the pressure placed on ordinary people during one of Brazil’s most difficult periods.
Overview
I'm Still Here is a Brazilian-French historical drama shaped by an intimate family story. Its setting combines the warmth of a Rio household with the tense atmosphere of the military dictatorship, creating a portrait of love, uncertainty, and endurance. The film keeps its focus close to the Paiva family, allowing the political conflict to emerge through the changes imposed on their everyday lives.
The drama draws its strength from the contrast between a home filled with friends and the growing danger beyond its doors. Personal relationships, parental responsibility, and the search for truth give the narrative its emotional center, while the historical setting adds urgency to every decision the family must make.
Cast and Characters
The Paiva family stands at the heart of the film. Rubens is taken for questioning, while Eunice faces the consequences of his disappearance and works to hold the household together. Their five children share the family’s uncertainty and experience the strain brought into their home.
The cast features Selton Mello, Luiza Kosovski, Fernanda Montenegro, Fernanda Torres, and Valentina Herszage. Together, the performers support a character-driven drama centered on family bonds, political repression, and the quiet strength required to live through uncertainty.
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