Our take
I'm Still Here follows a Rio family after the military regime takes a father away. Expect grief, political fear, some f-word language, smoking and drinking, and later talk of torture and murder. The violence is more documentary than graphic on screen. Heavy, sad, and suitable for older tweens and teens who can sit with history. Not a gore film
Uplifting themes
Steadiness, love, and refusing to let a family be erased The mother keeps the household and the children's dignity intact under pressure A clear, human way into Brazil's military dictatorship and the families it broke
Story (may spoil tone)
A woman married to a former politician during the 1971 military dictatorship in Brazil is forced to reinvent herself and chart a new course for her family after a violent and arbitrary act.
What we flagged
Scores are 0–5: 0 means none; 5 means the strongest we flagged in that category.
Details
Violence State violence, fear of killing, and later documents about torture and…
State violence, fear of killing, and later documents about torture and murder. Little on-screen gore
Language Several strong bursts, including the f-word and s-word, in family stress
Several strong bursts, including the f-word and s-word, in family stress
Sex / nudity Kissing and a joke about who slept with whom. No sex scenes
Kissing and a joke about who slept with whom. No sex scenes
Drugs / alcohol Joints, whiskey, cigars, wine, and cigarettes in 1970s social life
Joints, whiskey, cigars, wine, and cigarettes in 1970s social life
Frightening Kidnapping talk and the dread of a regime that can take someone and not…
Kidnapping talk and the dread of a regime that can take someone and not explain
Self-harm / suicide No self-harm found in this title
No self-harm found in this title
Sexual violence No sexual violence found in this title
No sexual violence found in this title
Child peril / abuse Children in the family live under a dictatorship after their father van…
Children in the family live under a dictatorship after their father vanishes. Not graphic abuse, still frightening
Bullying / discrimination No bullying found in this title
No bullying found in this title
Gore / death / weapons No gore found in this title
No gore found in this title
Dangerous behaviour No dangerous behavior found in this title
No dangerous behavior found in this title
Eating disorders / body image No eating found in this title
No eating found in this title
Mental health No mental health found in this title
No mental health found in this title
Gambling No gambling found in this title
No gambling found in this title
Grief / bereavement A family waits, mourns, and rebuilds around a missing parent. The ache…
A family waits, mourns, and rebuilds around a missing parent. The ache is the film
Talk after watching
- A parent is taken by the state. How does the rest of the family keep going?
- Kids live through a story they only half understand. What would you tell them?