Release Date – TBC, Cert – TBC, Run-time – 1 hour 26 minutes, Director – Gabriel Mascaro
In the near-future the aging population are sent to remote, controlled living spaces. Not wanting this to be her fate, Tereza (Denise Weinberg) flees through the Amazon rainforest in the hope of achieving her dream to fly in a plane.
There’s a truly degrading set of images as we see elderly figures queued up and pushed onto buses as they make their apparently inevitable journey to the remote ‘community’ where all Brazilian citizens are sent at age 77. Up until this point there have been only a scattering of near-future elements in The Blue Trail, but this sequence highlights something truly dystopian in tone and imaging. Elderly citizens are seen as a burden on society, stopping the country and younger members of society from being properly productive. Thus, they must be sent to a growing village where they won’t cause trouble to anyone but themselves.
The shots come in contrast to the open spaces of the Amazon, and other locations seen throughout protagonist Tereza’s (Denise Weinberg) journey. Fleeing the clutches of her life being taken away from her she pursues her dream of flying in a plane by first travelling through the rainforest – with the help of boat captain Cadu (Rodrigo Santoro). As the boat sets off the initial stages of the pair’s journey is a calm and gentle one. Cruising along, taking in the scenery and the freedoms of the outside world which Tereza may be slightly overwhelmed by, although trying not to show it, and drinking it all in with a hint of determination.
It’s a tone that’s struck throughout and proves to be quietly engaging. Holding interest for the 86-minute run-time which grows the bond between the two leads, and Tereza’s independence along with it. All done in a largely calm manner that makes the more dystopian elements stand out and land a tense impact when the coldness of the attitude and environment are glimpsed up close. A sudden change from the sense of wonder that’s captured in the characters as they look with new eyes at their natural surroundings.
In some ways the best way I could describe The Blue Trail is as a film that I simply enjoyed being in the company of. A calm, likable piece of work that captures two characters making the most of their freedom and independence by exploring the world around them with different backgrounds. Yet, the push is very much with Tereza. The heart is in her journey to the end. Which is perhaps why when the final stages seem uncertain as to where they’re going to go the end manages to stick the landing.
A calm and gentle journey where the heart is consistently with the main character, there’s brief cold dystopia to contrast with the freedom and independence of the rainforest journey which quietly holds attention throughout The Blue Trail.
Just A Little Bit Random 