SAO PAULO (AP) — Celebrated Brazilian author Marcelo Rubens Paiva joyfully swayed in his wheelchair among the Carnival crowd, basking in the appreciation for his work. However, a moment later, an unknown assailant made a rude gesture at Paiva, hurling a beer can and a backpack at him, striking him in the head.
Paiva, a revered figure in Brazilian literature for over four decades, has faced intense scrutiny and hostility following the success of the film adaptation of his 2015 book “I’m Still Here,” which received widespread acclaim and three Oscar nominations. While many praise the movie for shedding light on the dark era of Brazil’s military dictatorship from 1964 to 1985, others view it as politically biased. Paiva has been disheartened by the wave of online vitriol directed towards him.
Speaking from his residence in Sao Paulo, Paiva, 65, defended the film, stating, “It is a retelling of our history as we experienced it, a narrative crucial to preventing its repetition. I believe it has the power to challenge perspectives, even among those who initially oppose it.”
“I’m Still Here” is in contention for multiple Oscars, with lead actress Fernanda Torres receiving a nomination for her portrayal of Paiva’s mother. The film revolves around the disappearance of Paiva’s father during the dictatorship and his mother’s relentless quest for truth.
A Personal Journey
Paiva, a bestselling author known for his resilience following a life-altering accident, reflected on the unexpected impact of “I’m Still Here.” He acknowledged the unique resonance the film holds globally, resonating with audiences beyond Brazil.
As the son of a disappeared politician, Paiva felt compelled to share his family’s untold story amid a political climate marked by historical revisionism and denial. The gradual unraveling of long-held truths about the dictatorship in Brazil spurred him to document his own experiences.
The growing demands for justice, triggered by then-President Dilma Rousseff’s efforts to address past atrocities, played a pivotal role in shaping Paiva’s narrative. The establishment of a truth commission to investigate dictatorship-era abuses provided a platform for his story to reach a wider audience.
Challenges and Criticism
Notably, criticism of Paiva’s work has been vociferously led by Jair Bolsonaro, the former military officer turned president. Bolsonaro’s confrontational stance towards narratives challenging the official historical account has amplified tensions surrounding Paiva’s storytelling.
Nevertheless, Paiva remains steadfast in his commitment to preserving the memory of those who suffered under the dictatorship. He views “I’m Still Here” as a testament to the resilience of individuals who dared to confront a dark chapter in Brazil’s history, urging viewers to grapple with uncomfortable truths.
As the controversy rages on, Paiva stands resolute in his belief that storytelling has the power to foster understanding and empathy, brid
The late Paiva was accused in Congress by an individual of being linked to communist terrorists, along with his family. These accusations, originating in the 1990s, erroneously connect a farm owned by the Paiva family, situated near where Bolsonaro was raised, to a guerrilla group. Paiva recounted how this individual would annually deliver speeches maligning his father with fabricated tales. One such claim stated that Paiva’s father was allegedly betrayed and killed by his fellow comrades engaged in armed struggle, purportedly for revealing sensitive information during torture sessions. Witnessing the manipulation of social media to propagate baseless narratives for the first time, Paiva reflected on the profound impact of misinformation and deception.
During an interview, Bolsonaro mentioned that he had not viewed the film in question, yet his supporters vehemently criticized it, emphasizing that Paiva perished in a war like many others on both sides of the conflict. The Truth Commission of Brazil documented that a minimum of 434 individuals lost their lives at the hands of the military regime, including 136 who disappeared without a trace. Paiva authored the book “I’m Still Here” as his mother’s battle with Alzheimer’s gradually erased her memories. Although director Walter Salles acquired the rights to the book in 2017, he opted not to proceed with the film’s production during Bolsonaro’s presidency.
Recent developments saw Brazil’s prosecutor-general indicting Bolsonaro on charges of orchestrating a coup to retain power, including accusations of inciting violence in Brasilia by urging his supporters to riot, reminiscent of the events of the Capitol insurrection in the United States. Expressing his concerns, Paiva highlighted the global apprehension surrounding the erosion of democracy into authoritarian rule, underscoring the film’s portrayal of democracy and the essential values of human rights and empathy.
In a significant breakthrough following the film’s release, Paiva obtained an updated death certificate for his father, previously obtained by his mother in 1996. The revised certificate now acknowledges his father’s demise as a “violent death caused by the Brazilian State in the context of systematic persecution of dissidents from the dictatorial regime established in 1964.” Brazil’s Supreme Court announced its intention to determine whether the lone surviving torturer of Rubens Paiva, General José Antônio Nogueira Belham, could be brought to trial. Advocates for human rights in Brazil argue that concealing bodies constitutes an ongoing offense not covered by the country’s amnesty laws.
Reflecting on his journey, Paiva viewed his literary endeavors as a mission accomplished, acknowledging the film’s impact even if it does not receive accolades such as an Oscar.
