The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) has exciting news for cinephiles with the unveiling of its lineup for the “A Curation of World Cinema” exhibition this April. Alongside the acclaimed Australian animated film Memoir of a Snail, the political Brazilian drama I’m Still Here is set to screen on April 30 in select Ayala and SM Cinemas in Metro Manila.
Directed by Walter Salles, the film is based on a memoir by Salles’ childhood friend, Marcelo Rubens Paiva, about the arrest and disappearance of his father during Brazil’s military dictatorship in 1971. The film features Fernanda Torres in a compelling performance as Eunice Paiva, a mother grappling with the mystery of her husband’s vanishing while trying to keep her family united amidst the chaos. As the first Brazilian film to win an Academy Award, I’m Still Here recently triumphed at the Platino Awards on April 27, taking home honors for Best Ibero-American Fiction Film, along with accolades for Best Director and Best Actress for Fernanda Torres.
Ainda Estou Aqui (I’m Still Here) was originally published in 2015, while the film’s adaptation began around seven years ago. Director Walter Salles, who grew up in Rio de Janeiro during the 1960s, had a close bond with Paiva’s family, whom he consulted heavily with for the film. Marking Salles’ first feature film in more than a decade, I’m Still Here delves into a dark chapter of Brazilian history while simultaneously reflecting on present themes that shape the nation today.
I’m Still Here is showing in select cinemas on April 30 at the following theaters: Ayala Trinoma, Ayala Terraces Fairview, Ayala Market! Market!, Robinsons Galleria, SM MOA, SM North EDSA, Gateway Cineplex, and Cinema ’76.
