What begins as a tale of resistance against Brazil’s devastating military dictatorship transforms into a heart-wrenching story of love, loss and incredible resilience in “I’m Still Here”. Directed by Walter Salles, the movie reveals the journey of Eunice Paiva, who, after her husband’s abduction by the military, leads her family in their fight for survival. With award-winning performances, particularly by Fernanda Torres as Eunice Paiva, the film delivers the message: even when times are dark, love can be revolutionary.

When Rubens Paiva (played by Selton Mello) is taken by the Brazilian military, his wife, Eunice Paiva (played by Fernanda Torres and Fernanda Montenegro), and his five children are left to pick up the pieces. Their journey post-disappearance is one of grief and torture. Actual torture. Some scenes in this movie may seem brutal, but they are necessary to ensure that viewers know exactly how devastating the time period was for citizens.

As the film highlights the terrors of the military dictatorship that had power in Brazil during the 1970s, the audience will experience heartbreak as though they are part of the Paiva family. What starts as a movie about a virtually unheard-of resistance, morphs into a story about motherhood, and the intense strength that comes from the need to protect loved ones.

In many incredible scenes, Torres shows her character’s struggle to put a brave face on and shield her children from the world while doing what she can to resist the harsh realities of her country. The connection between Eunice and her children is powerful throughout the duration of the movie, with heart-wrenching moments of sacrifice and determination that show the audience just how painfully beautiful love can be.

Torres more than does justice to the memory of Eunice Paiva. She fully embraces the persona, bringing her incredible story of resilience through love to life on screens around the world. Seeing it in a theater certainly made the gravity of her performance very visible. The intensity of her acting created a palpable energy within the theater. Together, the theater held their breath as their eyes welled with tears.

At a particular part of the movie, Torres’ character spends a surprisingly long scene staring at her reflection in the mirror. What is probably the simplest scene in the film becomes the most powerful due to Torres’ breathtaking acting. While every time Eunice Paiva spoke, her words hit everyone profoundly, the scenes in which she let her body language and facial expressions do all the acting were the ones the audience remembered most. Throughout the movie, her moments of silence conveyed more emotion than most actors can send across in heartfelt monologues. The mirror scene is also a testament to the powerful directing behind the movie, as it takes a talented director to recognize the beauty in such a simple scene.

Beyond the incredible production of the film, “I’m Still Here” does an impressive job of capturing even the most obscure details of the time period and area. From quick camera shots of children running loose and playing soccer barefoot in the streets, down to a brief scene of teenagers using Coca-Cola as suntan lotion, “I’m Still Here” brought back fond memories of childhood for many Brazilians.

Over 25 years ago, Torres’ mother, Fernanda Montenegro, who plays an older Eunice Paiva, was nominated for Best Leading Actress and Best International Feature Film at the Academy Awards. Sadly, the film did not win in either category, but Montenegro’s legacy was brought back to the awards by her daughter, with “I’m Still Here” being nominated for three Academy Awards. “I’m Still Here” deservedly won the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. Torres also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress, beating A-list actresses including Angelina Jolie, Kate Winslet, and Nicole Kidman. While “I’m Still Here” did not win the Academy Award for Best Actress or Best Motion Picture, even though it should have, it is still a great achievement to have a Brazilian film brought to the limelight in the USA.

At first glance, “I’m Still Here” appears to be another political thriller about a dictatorship, and how the nation’s people stood up to it. And really, that is where the story starts: a harsh military leader, an ex-congressman’s secret resistance, and the family he leaves behind. But as you watch, the movie based on a true story becomes an intimate tale of motherhood, unbreakable love, and the power behind both.