"It’s difficult to call on the past for protection when we never even owned up to it in the first place. In a healthy, democratic society, holding bad state actors accountable is not a luxury, something to do if you happen to have the time. It’s a necessity."
So damn true.
If anything, forgetting the past makes it even easier for war criminals like GWB to transform themselves into a "kindly Texan Picasso." Add Kissinger to that list. He got to die at home, warm in his bed. A courtesy not afforded to those in areas he targeted.
even for you this is a breathtakingly excellent piece of writing, which too many excellent quotes to count. I think it's a particularly relevant topic for a country absolutely OBSESSED with punishment (and, relatedly, policing and militarism and surveillance at the direct cost of social services) that is willfully ignorant towards the foundation of genocide and internment upon which our country is built upon (to say nothing of the MANY military interventions we've committed throughout the Global South).
I’m really glad for this post, that finally someone is talking about its importance of the movie, because for me it’s one of the best of this season. I know from tiktok you’re also from south america (i’m from Chile) but it is so important to spread the message in other languages, thanks 🫶🏼
Feeling uneasy when posting about more serious matters is a sign that there's something in you that needs to come out, thoughts that are important, even if they're uncomfortable to face. I'm glad you decided to post this, it was a really good read.
As a Brazilian, I'm always happy to see people talking about our history, especially the ugly parts of it, and especially when they mention the role of the United States in endorsing such regimes.
My parents were born in the same year as the dictatorship, and lived their entire youth in it. Observing them now, being an adult myself, I can see the impact this had on their lives, their opinions and thoughts that were formed under state repression. It feels good to have people talk about it, even if it's ugly, and messy. When we talk about it, we admit this really happened. It's proof that it's real, and that matters.
I have to say thank you so much for this newsletter. I am a reader from Brazil, and things have changed since I'm Still Here was launched on theaters, even more so after it started to be recognised internationally.
Here, we feel so proud and glad that our culture is heading to the world. I like to think that the movie was not only a cinema masterpiece but also made us feel hopeful again. Glad to know that it made an impact on other people, as well. ;)
I always find your posts here so good, and this one is particularly special to me, since I'm from Brazil. Even though I was not even born at the time of the dictatorship, watching the movie has brought a river of tears to my face, and I can't even imagine being part of a family that went through a tragedy like that...
Accountability it’s one of my favorite words and unfortunately it doesn't have a translation into Portuguese. Thank you for the beautiful words about our film and the topic.
Loved this Clara - I'm Still Here isn't in any cinema near me (wtf) but I hope I can see it sometime soon because, without sounding completely and utterly morbid and maniacal, I am forever very interested in the Latin American dictatorships. Even taking history to a degree level I had no idea the extent of them, and only in becoming really obsessed with translated south american lit, and realising that in almost every single book, there is some sort of discussion about the dictatorships, did I really start to understand that time in history that is never ever discussed in western spheres. I don't know if you have read - but The Twilight Zone by Nona Fernandez is one that always comes to mind when I hear of disappearances in South America.
I'm looking forward to watching this movie and as an adoptive Argentine and big fan of Argentina, 1985, I loved being able to clap for our Brazilian neighbors as they continue to process their dictatorship and its lasting scars through film/art.
We would all do well right now to take a close look at how state-supported ideological repression, fascist propaganda, the suspension of habeus corpus and a frightened population can create the ideal conditions for what happened throughout the Southern Cone in not-so-distant history. I say that as a writer constantly inspired by what I feel are the untold stories of both victims and survivors of Argentina's civil-military dictatorship t(hat ended when I was a child.)
Uruguaya, entonces? No sabía, mando abrazo rioplantense por las ondas del internet, soy fan hace tiempo.
There is no sustainable rule of law without a modicum of accountability (even without justice). Both concepts live in a symbiotic relationship. Many South American democracies have done a much better job than the USA in this area and…surprise, that’s why the USA is now not considered a fully functioning democracy (The Economist Intelligence Unit).
Thank you for this piece. It is so important for everyone to be speaking out about this terrible time we find ourselves in, especially those (like you!!) who are so great at communicating.
Thank you for the thoughtful piece. I wonder how technology aids and blocks us from action. It feels like accountability is further and further away, particularly in the US.
"It’s difficult to call on the past for protection when we never even owned up to it in the first place. In a healthy, democratic society, holding bad state actors accountable is not a luxury, something to do if you happen to have the time. It’s a necessity."
So damn true.
If anything, forgetting the past makes it even easier for war criminals like GWB to transform themselves into a "kindly Texan Picasso." Add Kissinger to that list. He got to die at home, warm in his bed. A courtesy not afforded to those in areas he targeted.
simply do not get me started on kissinger
To your: “If you’re still here..” section, I’m still here!
so i didn't say it like that on purpose but now that i see it ... cheeky of me!
even for you this is a breathtakingly excellent piece of writing, which too many excellent quotes to count. I think it's a particularly relevant topic for a country absolutely OBSESSED with punishment (and, relatedly, policing and militarism and surveillance at the direct cost of social services) that is willfully ignorant towards the foundation of genocide and internment upon which our country is built upon (to say nothing of the MANY military interventions we've committed throughout the Global South).
I’m really glad for this post, that finally someone is talking about its importance of the movie, because for me it’s one of the best of this season. I know from tiktok you’re also from south america (i’m from Chile) but it is so important to spread the message in other languages, thanks 🫶🏼
Feeling uneasy when posting about more serious matters is a sign that there's something in you that needs to come out, thoughts that are important, even if they're uncomfortable to face. I'm glad you decided to post this, it was a really good read.
As a Brazilian, I'm always happy to see people talking about our history, especially the ugly parts of it, and especially when they mention the role of the United States in endorsing such regimes.
My parents were born in the same year as the dictatorship, and lived their entire youth in it. Observing them now, being an adult myself, I can see the impact this had on their lives, their opinions and thoughts that were formed under state repression. It feels good to have people talk about it, even if it's ugly, and messy. When we talk about it, we admit this really happened. It's proof that it's real, and that matters.
These are your best posts!
I have to say thank you so much for this newsletter. I am a reader from Brazil, and things have changed since I'm Still Here was launched on theaters, even more so after it started to be recognised internationally.
Here, we feel so proud and glad that our culture is heading to the world. I like to think that the movie was not only a cinema masterpiece but also made us feel hopeful again. Glad to know that it made an impact on other people, as well. ;)
I always find your posts here so good, and this one is particularly special to me, since I'm from Brazil. Even though I was not even born at the time of the dictatorship, watching the movie has brought a river of tears to my face, and I can't even imagine being part of a family that went through a tragedy like that...
Accountability it’s one of my favorite words and unfortunately it doesn't have a translation into Portuguese. Thank you for the beautiful words about our film and the topic.
Loved this Clara - I'm Still Here isn't in any cinema near me (wtf) but I hope I can see it sometime soon because, without sounding completely and utterly morbid and maniacal, I am forever very interested in the Latin American dictatorships. Even taking history to a degree level I had no idea the extent of them, and only in becoming really obsessed with translated south american lit, and realising that in almost every single book, there is some sort of discussion about the dictatorships, did I really start to understand that time in history that is never ever discussed in western spheres. I don't know if you have read - but The Twilight Zone by Nona Fernandez is one that always comes to mind when I hear of disappearances in South America.
I'm looking forward to watching this movie and as an adoptive Argentine and big fan of Argentina, 1985, I loved being able to clap for our Brazilian neighbors as they continue to process their dictatorship and its lasting scars through film/art.
We would all do well right now to take a close look at how state-supported ideological repression, fascist propaganda, the suspension of habeus corpus and a frightened population can create the ideal conditions for what happened throughout the Southern Cone in not-so-distant history. I say that as a writer constantly inspired by what I feel are the untold stories of both victims and survivors of Argentina's civil-military dictatorship t(hat ended when I was a child.)
Uruguaya, entonces? No sabía, mando abrazo rioplantense por las ondas del internet, soy fan hace tiempo.
Insightful and incredible as always 👏🏼
There is no sustainable rule of law without a modicum of accountability (even without justice). Both concepts live in a symbiotic relationship. Many South American democracies have done a much better job than the USA in this area and…surprise, that’s why the USA is now not considered a fully functioning democracy (The Economist Intelligence Unit).
Thank you for this piece. It is so important for everyone to be speaking out about this terrible time we find ourselves in, especially those (like you!!) who are so great at communicating.
See you at 12:30! 🤩
Thank you for the thoughtful piece. I wonder how technology aids and blocks us from action. It feels like accountability is further and further away, particularly in the US.