I’m Still Here is a piece of art. And art, by its very nature, is meant to provoke something. It’s a tool to make social commentary, to reflect society and life, and sometimes even to protest or rebel.

I don’t feel it’s necessary to dissect every element that makes this film the masterpiece it is because it is, in its entirety, a complete and powerful piece. In fact, I feel that if I talk too much about it, I might damage the experience, as the film is meant to be felt, not explained. Just like it masterfully uses fewer words and more images, it’s what you don’t see, what you don’t know—the psychological dread that the story conveys—that really makes the impact. The less said here, the better, because you need to see it for yourself. You must.

In an ideal world, there wouldn’t be any debate about which film should take home the Best Picture Oscar this year. Because in the perfect world of cinema, I’m Still Here would be the undisputed winner.

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