I’m Still Here: from Rio to the world
We cariocas love everything that makes Rio de Janeiro unique – whether on the silver screen or in real life. That’s why, in today’s blogpost, we’re going to talk about the movie ‘I’m Still Here’, which marked a historic moment by winning the Oscar, praising our Carioca scenery. And don’t worry, there won’t be any spoilers.
About the movie
‘I’m Still Here’ showed the world the strength and creativity of Brazilian cinema and was nominated for an Oscar in the categories of:
- Best Film
- Best International Film
- Best Actress for Fernanda Torres
The inspiring narrative and bold direction won hearts and brought the award to Brazil in the Best International Film category. The production opened doors for other stories to be told with the same passion.
Despite being marked by so many joys, the Brazilian movie is set during the most intense period of the military dictatorship in Brazil, in the 1970s. Watching it, it’s easy to get attached to the lively and charismatic Paiva family. And it’s hard not to be moved by the events that marked the lives of each of the characters.
Among the many highlights, Fernanda Torres’ performance was a real treat for the audience. With her captivating and emotionally charged performance, she elevated every scene and showed why she is considered one of our country’s (and now the world’s!) greatest actresses. Her talent helped convey all the sensitivity and authenticity of the plot, making each character come to life in a unique way.
Rio de Janeiro as the main character
The movie is a tour of the most iconic spots in the Marvelous City. Each setting is an invitation for you to explore and fall even more in love with Rio. Here are some of the main spots in Rio de Janeiro that appeared in the movie ‘I’m Still Here’:
Manon Confectionery
First of all, the coffee shop that was part of several family moments in the movie has been operating in Rio de Janeiro since 1942. In “I’m still here”, it has been adapted to resemble the old Chaika snack bar in Ipanema, which closed in 2014 and was frequented by the Paiva family.
Light Cultural Center
The scenes in which the character Eunice Paiva, the matriarch of the family, goes to the bank were shot in the Light Cultural Center building. The building is located in the center of Rio de Janeiro and is one of the city’s historic heritage sites. It currently has several permanent and temporary exhibitions. It’s well worth a visit!
Leblon Beach
But the truth is that, amidst so many iconic settings, a big highlight goes to Leblon beach. This is because the stretch of beach in front of Avenida Delfim Moreira was practically the backyard of the Paiva family home and the iconic view of Dois Irmãos Hill appears a few times in the movie.
On the sands and in the sea of Leblon, the whole family shared moments of relaxation, whether it was playing a game of volleyball, taking a dip or enjoying the street vendors who have been so successful there ever since.
Paiva family mansion
And of course we had to mention the mansion that was the scene of so many memorable family moments, from the most beautiful and fun to the most difficult and touching. The original house was on Avenida Delfim Moreira itself and became a restaurant after the family left.
Filming took place in a similar house in Urca, on the corner of Rua Roquete Pinto and Avenida João Luiz Alves. After the release of the film, the location became a real tourist attraction in the city and has attracted many visitors who want to see up close what was previously only seen on the silver screen. The mansion still yields incredible photos for those who decide to stop by.
And to top it all off, Rio’s city hall has announced some incredible news! The building used for filming the movie I’m Still Here will be transformed into the House of Brazilian Cinema, a permanent memory of the story of Eunice Paiva and her family and the two great artists who brought her to life – Fernanda Torres and Fernanda Montenegro.
According to the mayor, the public will also be able to learn about the history of Brazil and the Oscars in interactive exhibitions.
Well, it’s worth remembering that the film explores several other Rio neighborhoods in different ways, such as Gamboa, Arpoador, Glória, Copacabana, Ilha do Governador (Galeão Airport), Cosme Velho (Sion College), Engenho de Dentro (Nise da Silveira Municipal Institute as Doi-Codi) and the Botanical Garden (Rua Euclides de Figueiredo, where the family would build a house).
So, it’s clear that in addition to everything that ‘I’m Still Here’ provides and represents, the Brazilian film also invites us to explore historic and iconic corners of Rio that have always enchanted cariocas and visitors alike.
