Brazilian cinema has been doing well of late, especially this year with the country’s first Best Picture Oscar nomination with Walter Salles’ I’m Still Here, which premiered at last year’s Venice Film Festival in Competition.
Director Gabriel Mascaro (Neon Bull, Divine Love) does his fellow filmmaker and country proud by playing in Berlin's Competition this year with O último azul (The Blue Trail).
Taking place in a near-future Brazil, it starts with a seemingly benevolent broadcast from the government, blaring out to the population that the elderly need to be looked after and that “the future is for everyone.”
Indeed, older citizens are celebrated with government tributes in the shape of laurels on their homes and medals honouring them as “national living heritages”. However, the reality is that the regime now forces older people to retire and relocates them to an isolated senior housing colony so that the younger generations can focus on productivity and growth without worrying about the elderly. A neoliberalist wetdream.
Refusal to accept one’s fate can lead you to be reported by your neighbour and picked up by the “Wrinkle Wagon”, before being transferred to the Colony.
Tereza (Denise Weinberg), 77, thought she was three years away from her forced relocation. However, the government has bumped the age threshold down to 75, so she’s unknowingly been breaking the law. She is now under the official guardianship of her daughter – which means she can no longer make a simple purchase without a green light – and gets retired from her job at a factory that processes alligator meat.
“The government wants you to rest,” says her supervisor.
“Why would I want to rest? I want to live,” she replies, having previously asked the tribute
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