When I Was Alive

The film examines the breakdown of traditional family structures without confirming specific LGBTQ+ identities. The narrative's focus on displacement hints at a move away from the assumption that everyone is straight or cisgender.

The story challenges traditional masculine stereotypes by focusing on a male protagonist who experiences failure and vulnerability. Júnior's loss of job and marriage disrupts the usual depiction of a stable patriarch.

Set within a specific Brazilian context, the film moves away from homogenized Western perspectives. The focus on localized family histories provides a distinct regional lens.

The narrative questions the sanctity of the home by framing the family unit as an oppressive environment. It examines inherited legacies and the deconstruction of traditional domestic ideals.

The film explores intense psychological states and obsession but does not provide specific portrayals of individuals with physical or neurodivergent disabilities as central narrative drivers.