MOVIE PREVIEWS
I'M STILL HERE
Rated: PG-13
Release Date: 01/31/2025
Production Company: Sony Pictures Classics

Cast:
Fernanda Torres, Selton Mello and Fernanda Montenegro.

Crew:
Director: Walter Salles. Producers: Maria Carlota Bruno, Remi Burah, Martine de Clermont-Tonnerre, Olivier Pere, Rodrigo Teieira, Daniela Thomas and Suely Weller. Executive Producers: Renata Brandao, Juliana Capelini, Thierry de Clermont-Tonnerre, Masha Magonova, Lourenco Sant'Anna, David Taghioff and Guilherme Terra. Music: Warren Ellis. Screenwriters: Murilo Hauser, Heitor Lorega and Marcelo Rubens Paiva. Music: Warren Ellis. Cinematographer: Adrian Teijido.
Plot:
By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs

Since its world premiere at the 81st Venice International Film Festival this past September, the biographical political drama "I'm Still Here" has become a standout on the awards circuit.

Directed by Walter Salles ("The Man in the Rockefeller Suit") and based on Marcelo Rubens Paiva's 2015 memoir of the same name, the film, adapted by Murilo Hauser ("Mariner of the Mountains") and Heitor Lorega ("Mariner of the Mountains") was named one of the Top Five International Films of 2024 by the National Board of Review.

At the recent 82nd Annual Golden Globe Awards, "I'm Still Here" lead star Fernanda Torres won "Best Actress in a Motion Picture (Drama)," further solidifying the film's critical acclaim. Additionally, "I'm Still Here" is nominated for "Best Foreign Language Film" at the 30th Annual Critics Choice Awards, which will air live on E! Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. (ET/PT) from the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California. The ceremony will also be available for streaming the next day on Peacock.

On top of that, "I'm Still Here" garnered nominations from the upcoming 97th Annual Academy Awards for "Best International Feature Film," "Best Actress" (Torres), and "Best Picture," making history as the first Brazilian-produced film to receive a nomination in the prestigious "Best Picture" category. The Oscars will air live on ABC March 2 from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

Set in 1970s Rio de Janeiro, "I'm Still Here" tells the heartbreaking story of the Paiva family, torn apart by political corruption and the Brazilian military dictatorship.

When Rubens Paiva (Selton Mello, “A Dog's Will 2"), a former congressman and member of the Brazilian Labour Party (PTB), is forcibly taken from his home, his wife Eunice (Fernanda Torres, TV's "Fim") is left in the dark, unable to learn his fate. As days turn into weeks and months, Eunice and their five children endure constant surveillance and growing uncertainty, while their lives are further upended by Eunice’s own imprisonment and brutal interrogation. As Eunice's search for the truth deepens, her emotional journey unfolds, showcasing her unwavering resolve to uncover what happened to her husband.

Torres' performance embodies the pain, strength, and hope of a mother and wife torn by loss. The film poignantly contrasts Eunice's earlier, happier days with Rubens, using archival footage to underscore their once-joyful family life.

As Eunice ages, Torres is joined by her real-life 95-year-old mother, Fernanda Montenegro, who portrays the older version of Eunice with a quiet, sorrowful strength. Interestingly, Montenegro, was nominated for an Academy Award in 1999 for "Best Actress" for her performance in the Portuguese road drama, "Central Station/Central do Brasil."

I'm Still Here" is a thought-provoking film. It explores the devastating impact of political violence on individuals and families and offers a raw and emotional portrayal of determination, love, and the unrelenting pursuit of justice in the face of unimaginable tragedy.

Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays now at 5:17 p.m. and 6:47 p.m. on radio station KFBK 93.1 FM and 1530 AM.

Watch This Trailer For "I'M STILL HERE"

Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), The American Film Institute (AFI), and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.

OLD SCHOOL VIDEO PICK OF THE MONTH

<b>MAHOGANY</b> Title: MAHOGANY
Year Released: 1975
Running Time: 109
Production Company: Paramount Pictures
Director: Berry Gordy, Tony Richardson and Jack Wormser
Director of Photography: David Watkin
Screenwriter: John Byrum and Toni Amber
Author: Lana K. Wilson-Combs

REVIEW: DIANA ROSS AND BILLY DEE WILLIAMS DAZZLE IN "MAHOGANY"

Do you know where you're going to?
Do you like the things that life is showing you? Where are you going to?
Do you know?
Do you get what you're hoping for? When you look behind you, there's no open doors. What are you hoping for? Do you know? "Theme from Mahogany...
  MOVIE TRIVIA
 
The "Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To)" was sung by Diana Ross in the 1975 movie "Mahogany." But, who initially recorded the song in 1973?
"Roberta Flack"
"Natalie Cole"
"Deniece Williams"
"Thelma Houston"