Movie reviews. On the blockbuster hit ‘I’m Still Here’

It was a late evening show for which I had gotten my tickets to the local premier of ‘I’m Still Here,’ a Brazilian masterpiece describing the reign of military regime over Brazil, sometime in the late 20th century. I did not know much about either- the reign over Brazil, or what the movie was about specifically. All i remember is i felt called to go, visit, and watch this movie, experience this experience.

As i sat on my non-numbered seat, a fellow classmate took his seat next to me. Slightly unfamiliar, we looked at each other before i said to him- “I think we’ve met before?” to which he nodded and confessed that he’s trying out a new moustache for himself. I studied Dutch with him at class in university, and he was pretty chill. I think he was in his early 20s and still studying- but he had brought some friends with him to watch this film.

What i have to say about this experience is not about the film or even about the classmate. All i remember, distinctly even, is how the movie made me feel (I fear sharing spoilers and so i will mostly focus on the vague description of it.)

The whole movie was an emotional experience, however towards the end my emotions had built into an expression. Tears rolled down my cheeks and I remember feeling like I had been here before, that i had done this, experienced it at close hand as well. In my memories, i could only ever recall my awareness of the military regime over Myanmar, where I still had a friend with whom I liked to stay in touch. But I had not ever experienced something so close, so personal in my life before. I had no awareness then of what was happening, or what any of this meant- all i knew and was grateful for, was that the boy next to me looked over at me as he sobbed as well, and for those moments, i was no longer at this cinema alone.

I stayed till end credits- i gathered myself, walked home alone in the cool, crisp air of late winter, and went to sleep.