I finally got around to watchingI’m Still Here, and it’s a really great movie deserving of its Oscar win, but something is bugging me about the film’s ending.I’m Still Heretells the harrowing true story of Eunice Paiva, the wife of dissident politician Rubens Paiva, living under the military dictatorship in Brazil in the early 1970s. When Rubens is taken away for a deposition and never comes back, Eunice struggles to balance raising her kids alone with getting to the bottom of her husband’s mysterious disappearance.
I mostly agree withall the praiseI’m Still Herehas received from critics. Fernanda Torres gives a powerhouse performance in the lead role that really draws you into her turmoil, and director Walter Salles does a great job of capturing the historical political strife on an intimate, personal level. But it’s not quite as tight asother Best Picture nomineeslikeConclaveandAnora. Even though it’s more than an hour shorter thanThe Brutalist,I’m Still Hereoutstays its welcome more thanThe Brutalist— and the perfect ending was right there.
I’m Still Here Squanders Two Perfect Endings Before It Actually Ends
I’m Still Here Reaches A Natural Stopping Point Twice
Throughout most of its runtime,I’m Still Hereis a nail-biting political thriller wrapped up in a moving family drama. Buttoward the end, it starts to drag out a bit. It reaches two organic endings before it actually ends. The main storyline wraps up when Eunice finally gets an unofficial confirmation of Rubens’ grim fate. As she moved the family to São Paulo and they hit the road, it seemed like the movie was about to end — and it would’ve been a perfect ending. But then, the film jumps forward 25 years to 1996.
As she moved the family to São Paulo and they hit the road, it seemed like the movie was about to end — and it would’ve been a perfect ending. But then, the film jumps forward 25 years to 1996.
The Brazilian government, back to being a democracy after the dictatorship was toppled, sends Eunice an official death certificate for Rubens. This gives her closure on his loss and she gives a rousing monologue about the peace she feels (delivered brilliantly byan Oscar-worthy Torres). This felt like a fitting ending, too, but the film still keeps going. It jumps forward again, this time to 2014, to show an elderly Eunice suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, totally detached from her family.
Why I’m Still Here’s Final Scene Is Unnecessary
It Doesn’t Add Anything Substantial To The Story
The final scene ofI’m Still Hereis ultimately unnecessary.It’s touching to see a glimmer of recognition when Eunice sees Rubens mentioned on the news, but it doesn’t add anything substantial to the story — it was already clear as day that she missed her husband dearly — andit jumps ahead of the events described in the closing title cards. WhenI’m Still Hererolls its end credits, it explains how Eunice got her law degree and fought for indigenous rights, but that’s a massive leap backwards from the scene the film ended on.
