Oscar Nominee Film Review: I'M STILL HERE

One of the benefits of catching all of the Oscar films nominated for the Major Awards (Film, Actor & Actress, Supporting Actor& Actress and Director) is that, on occasion a foreign language film is included in this list and one can be exposed to cinema from other countries.

Such is the case with the Brazilian film, I’M STILL HERE,nominated as Best Picture and Best Lead Actress (Fernanda Torres) as well as Best Foreign Language Film (the one Oscar it will win), I’M STILL HERE tells the true tale of Eunice Paiva who searches for the truth of the political disappearance of her husband, Rubens Paiva – a former congressman and outspoken critic of the newly instituted Military dictatorship in 1970’s Brazil.

Director Walter Salles (THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES) takes his inspiration for this film from family friend Marcelo Rubens Paiva’s memoir of the events (he is the son of Eunice and Rubens Paiva) and he crafts a hard,harsh, poignant and emotional film led by a wonderful lead performance by Fernanda Torres – who, rightfully, fully earns her Oscar nomination.

There is no real mystery as to the ultimate outcome of this film, for it is a “David v. Goliath” film of one woman’s fight against a military dictatorship, but it is the journey that is the emotional center of this film and the center holds, strongly throughout the film as Director Salles steers the film with a sure, practiced hand.

The first Brazilian film to be Nominated for BEST PICTURE,I’M STILL HERE earns it’s nominations with a stalwart, earnest narrative centered on a main performance that embodies strength and perseverance in the face of adversity.

Letter Grade:  A-

8 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to theBank(ofMarquis)