To maximize economic productivity, the Brazilian government orders elderly people to move to remote housing colonies. A 77-year-old woman refuses and embarks on a journey through the Amazon that will change her destiny forever.
Brazilian cinema is having something of a moment, helped in part by back-to-back Best Picture nominations at the Oscars for ‘I’m Still Here’ and ‘The Secret Agent’. As a result, we’re seeing more films from the country getting cinema releases, albeit often limited, than we might usually expect. ‘The Blue Trail’, directed by Gabriel Mascaro, is the latest to benefit, a dystopian drama about an elderly woman who defies a government order to relocate to a purpose-built colony for the elderly, instead setting off on a journey through the Amazon while staying one step ahead of the authorities.
Our protagonist is Teresa, a 77-year-old factory worker who is abruptly forced into retirement and told she has only a few days before being relocated to one of these colonies, part of a government effort to ease the burden of an ageing population (a premise that feels increasingly relevant in many countries across the globe). Despite her daughter’s acceptance, or at least indifference, Teresa refuses to comply and escapes, heading to the Amazon basin. Along the way she encounters a number of characters, including Cadu (Rodrigo Santoro) and, later, Roberta (Miriam Socorrás), another elderly woman living off-grid on a boat.
The film is built around the idea that these encounters, along with the setbacks she faces, gradually enrich Teresa’s life, reinforcing that even at her age she still has plenty of living to do. The title refers to a blue liquid produced by a certain type of snail, which Cadu claims can allow you to see into the future if applied to the eyes. This adds a light touch of surrealism, which sits comfortably within the film’s dystopian, stripped-back landscapes.
At just under 90 minutes, the film is concise and benefits from that brevity, never overstaying its welcome. ‘The Blue Trail’ is an engaging and quietly thoughtful film, and a very enjoyable way to spend a Saturday morning at the cinema.
Rating: 4/5
Directed By: Gabriel Mascaro
Starring: Denise Weinberg, Rodrigo Santoro, Miriam Socorrás and Adanilo
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