“I’m Still Here” — the Best International Feature Film Oscar winner starring Best Actress Oscar nominee Fernanda Torres — is coming soon to Netflix.
The historical docudrama also was nominated for Best Picture at the 97th Academy Awards. I’m Still Here opened in theaters on Jan. 17 before debuting on digital streaming on March 11.
Based on a true story I’m Still Here begins in 1970. The official summary for I’m Still Here reads, “Brazil faces the tightening grip of a military dictatorship. Eunice Paiva (Torres), a mother of five children is forced to reinvent herself after her family suffers a violent and arbitrary act by the government.
“The film is based on Marcelo Rubens Paiva’s biographical book and tells the true story that helped reconstruct an important part of Brazil’s hidden history.”
Torres’ mother, Brazilian movie icon Fernanda Montenegro, plays the older version of Eunice while Selton Mello plays Eunice’s husband, Rubens Paiva. The film is directed by Walter Salles.
Netflix announced on its platform that I’m Still Here will begin streaming on Saturday, May 17. Viewers who don’t have Netflix have three subscription options.
The streamer has an ad-based package for $7.99 per month for viewing on two supported devices, an ad-free package for $17.99 per month for two supported devices and an ad-free package for $24.99 per month for four supported devices with programming in 4K Ultra HD.
Fernanda Torres Wasn’t Originally Cast In ‘I’m Still Here’
While Fernanda Torres had a hugely successful awards season run with I’m Still Here — in addition to her Best Actress Oscar nomination she won a Golden Globe for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture (Drama) — she ironically wasn’t cast in the film originally.
In fact, Torres told The Hollywood Reporter in a January interview, that Fernanda Montenegro was cast as the older version of Eunice Paiva before Torres got the call from director Walter Salles to star in the film.
“I wasn’t Walter’s first pick, as I’m older than Eunice was when her husband disappeared. But issues arose with the actress he chose, and he eventually cast me,” Torres told THR. “Walter asked me about my personal connections to the family, and I realized how much my mother reminded me of Eunice.
“There’s a photo of her from when we lived in São Paulo,” Torres added. “My father stayed behind as we moved to Rio, and in that picture, you can see her fear and worry. Eunice reminded me of her — she’s a similar kind of woman.”
In addition to the film’s awards season success, I’m Still Here was a huge hit at the box office, earning $6.2 million domestically and nearly $29.3 million internationally for a worldwide box office tally of $35.5 million against a $1.48 million production budget (per The Playlist) before prints and advertising costs.
I’m Still Here was also widely embraced by Rotten Tomatoes critics, who collectively gave the film a 97% “fresh” rating based on 190 reviews. The film also received a 97% “fresh” rating on RT’s Popcornmeter based on 500-plus verified user ratings.
Rated PG-13, I’m Still Here arrives on Netflix on May 17.
