The House as a Character: The Role of Set Design in the Film I'm Still Here

When watching a film, the setting often goes unnoticed, serving merely as a backdrop to the story. However, in certain works, space takes on a much more prominent role, becoming a character in its own right. This is the case in I'm Still Here (Walter Salles, 2024), a film that explores the impact of Brazil’s military dictatorship on a family. Carlos Conti, the production designer, materialized the film’s environments, imbuing them with emotional depth. This study focuses on a key setting in the film: the Paiva family home. Drawing on theoretical insights from authors such as Gaston Bachelard and Juhani Pallasmaa, the analysis reveals how the house evolves alongside the characters. Initially, a home where happiness overflows through the windows; by the end, a space where the absence of life seeps through the walls.