The Brazilian political drama ‘I’m Still Here’ has been a quiet success this Awards Season, but do you know the story of the murder case that inspired it?
Set during the Brazilian military dictatorship in the 1960s, ‘I’m Still Here’ dramatises the unsolved disappearance of former congressman and political dissident Rubens Paiva. Paiva’s abduction and suspected murder was one of many extrajudicial killings perpetrated by the regime.
Will ‘I’m Still Here’ win Best Picture? Find out this year’s Oscar predictions on this episode of First Up.
Who was Rubens Paiva?
‘I’m Still Here’ begins with Paiva’s return to Brazil in 1970 after six years in self-exile. Paiva was elected to congress in 1964, where he was responsible for investigating conservative think tanks that were suspected of fear mongering and spreading propaganda.
As part of the investigation, Paiva accused high-ranking military personnel of taking bribes from the think tanks, though they never managed to prove it.
When the military staged a coup d’etat in 1964, Paiva and his fellow dissident politicians were revoked of their congressional tenure.
Paiva assisted exiled left-wing activists and fighters in their struggle against the regime.
The abduction
The military dictatorship falsely came to believe that Paiva had a connection with left-wing militant Carlos Lamarca – the top name on their most-wanted terrorists list.
Armed men claiming to be Brazilian Air Force raided Paiva’s home in Rio de Janeiro and arrested him in 1971.
Paiva’s wife and daughter were also arrested and taken to the military intelligence agency, where they were imprisoned and tortured in the same room.
Although Paiva’s remains have never been found, a death certificate was issued in 1996. The cause of death was simply stated as ‘missing’.
On the day that ‘I’m Still Here’ was nominated for Best Picture, Paiva’s death certificate was amended to list the cause of death as violence by the hands of the State.
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