I’m Still Here (Ainda Estou Aqui) marks Walter Salles’s triumphant return to feature filmmaking, his first since On the Road (2012). The film debuted in Competition at the 81st Venice International Film Festival, where it won the Best Screenplay award. Since then, it has received widespread acclaim, including a nomination for Best Foreign Language Film at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards. Fernanda Torres, the film’s leading lady, won Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama at the same event. At the 97th Academy Awards, the film has earned three well-deserved nominations: Best International Feature Film, Best Actress for Torres, and Best Picture.
Featured as part of the Special Presentations at the 68th BFI London Film Festival, the film premiered at the Royal Southbank Centre. Shortly after, I had the opportunity to sit down with its leading man, Selton Mello, at London’s Sea Containers to discuss his journey with this remarkable work.
We begin our conversation with the premise of the film. Mello explains, “It’s based on a true story, based on a book and a true story. And I play this man, Ruben Spiva, who was taken from his family to answer some questions for the government. And he was murdered and disappeared forever.”
What sets I’m Still Here apart is its deliberate choice to centre the narrative on Ruben’s wife, Eunice Paiva, portrayed with depth and grace by Fernanda Torres. Mello reflects, “And then we see throughout the film, Fernanda Torres’s character struggling to adjust news and clues about her husband.” He concludes with quiet reverence, “It’s a heartbreaking story and a beautiful one.”
When discussing the challenge of portraying a well-known political figure and capturing both his public and private life, Mello shares his thoughtful approach. “I spoke to Marcelo Ruben Spiva, who wrote the book. He told me a lot about his father—how he was, how he was with the family, friends, etc. And then I got the idea of how this man was,” he explains.
Mello reflects on his responsibility in bringing Rubens Paiva to life onscreen. “My part was to fill the screen with grace and lightness to help the film. After I left the screen, you have to miss this guy. So, I think this is the point,” he concludes.
As both actor and director, Selton Mello speaks eloquently of the symbiotic relationship between the two crafts, revealing how each role enriches his creative perspective. “Because, for example, in this film, I’m acting. I’m doing my thing. But at the same time, I’m watching Walter’s work and saying, look how he does the thing. Look how he’s managing the scene. And then I learn as a director too at the same time. So it’s interesting. And when I direct the actors, I’m learning as an actor too. Look what he’s doing. I never could imagine this. It’s a healthy thing.”
Mello reflects on the profound relevance of I’m Still Here in today’s world and why its story belongs on the big screen. “It’s always important to remember to not do the same mistakes,” he emphasises. “I think it’s a film about memory, about family, and the bonds that tie us together. I believe it will be a deeply moving story, one that resonates with everybody, for every audience.”
When asked for advice for aspiring actors or directors, Mello draws on lessons from his own career. “I think we live in this social media era, which is great. But I think the young guys like yourself have to be aware to not miss the old-style things. Read a lot. Read a lot. Watch a lot of films. Because social media catches our attention. And then you start to be very anxious. And then you have no patience to read a book. And reading books is still very important,” he advises.
This conversation has been edited for content and clarity.
Image Credit to Jeff Spicer via Getty Images and the BFI London Film Festival