The Brazilian film of Walter Salles that deserved three Oscar nominations, including the best actress for Fernanda Montenegro
Barrio Leblon, Rio de Janeiro, January 1971. The young Mrs. Eunice enjoys the sea while on the beach Las Chicas and the Varencito play with friends and protect a lost dog. As soon as the street is home: a beautiful Portuguese -style house, two floors, white walls, blue openings, garden. In the kitchen, the employee bed inside, and involved in his study the husband engineer, a good -natured man, affectionate. On the sidewalk, the Red Opel Kadett to go for a walk. And on the outskirts, the earthly to lift a weekend house. In sum, the picture of a happy family, who likes to receive friends and enjoy life. Sometimes the man receives at the door an envelope wood paper that someone then goes on to withdraw. It is supposed to be something of work, nothing important.
This is how it presents Walter Salles The history of the Paiva family: Eunice and Rubens, the daughters Vera (nicknamed see, today psychologist), Eliana, Ana Lucia (NaluFriend of Salles When both were 13 years old), Beatriz (Babiu) and the boy Marcelo Rubenstoday writer. Precisely, the movie we now see is based on his memoir “Ainda Esou here”. He started writing it when the mother began to have Alzheimer’s. Playing with the laps of time and memories, evokes his childhood, the disappearance of the father, the way in which the mother became strong to carry out the house, the family, and the search for the husband, encouraging his own to maintain The joy despite everything, and then the remarkable advance of that woman who at 48 began to study law and was a struts in the defense of indigenous territories, until the head said enough.
Salles Take only part of the book, summarize another (1996, the young man already has fame for his first book, “Happy old year”, And accompany the mother to receive the father’s death certificate, which the government delivers with 25 years of backward), and closes with a cheerful, bright, full of joy and grandchildren. As auction of emotion, the final credits include a series of photos of the authentic family Paivaand it is worth staying to see the last of those photos.
Another would have made a melodrama, a whining, a complaint film that only those convinced, full of phrases and speeches, pure and bestial military. Salles He avoided that, there is practically little and nothing that could be assumed as painting of that time dominated by a military regime. He preferred to make the complete portrait of some people who met closely, with his beautiful moments, his tragedy and the overcoming of the pain thanks to that woman who only cried when she was alone.
That portrait is made with abundant detail, delicacy, affection and balance. And with a first cast, from the boys and the secondary to the two queens that embody Eunice: Fernanda Torresof admirable, rich and subtle management of emotions, and his mother, Fernanda Montenegrowhich at 95 returns to the screen. Only a few planes, but when the camera stands in front of her face and she transmits without any word what her character is feeling, that reaches her soul. Does the reader sound the name of Fernanda Montenegro? Yes, she and Walter Salles They are the artists that there for 1998 made, together with the child Vinicius de Oliveirathat exciting jewel, with emotion to Chaplincall “Central do Brazil” (among us, “Central Station”).
Small clarifications: Rubens Paivathe father, was not a socialist, but former deputy of the PTB, Labor Party close to the general’s populist thought Getulio Vargaswhat he did was only for pure mercy towards the exiles who wanted to communicate with their relatives, and Eunice did not participate in any political movement, as some comments say, rather he moved by his. Over time five of the murderers were sent to trial, but they never stepped on the courts and three of them have already died quietly in their homes. Of the rest, two small freedoms: it was not Eunice but Renée, Rubens older sister, who rescued the Opel parked in military custody. And the house of the house was not a dog, but a cat. There are very attendable reasons for this small “canine license.”
“I’m still here” (Ainda this, Brazil-France, 2024); Dir.: Walter Salles; Int.: Fernanda Torres, SELTON MELLO, Fernanda Montenegro, Antonio Saboia.
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
