An elderly woman embarks on a transformative journey through the rivers and tributaries of the Amazon in Director Gabriel Mascaro’s drama from Brazil, O Último Azul.

Mascaro’s film tells the story of 77-year-old Tereza, who has lived her whole life in a small industrial town in Brazil. When she receives an official government order to relocate to a senior housing colony, Tereza refuses to accept this imposed fate and decides to take a journey that will fulfill one last wish before her freedom is taken away — a decision that will change her destiny forever.

Mascaro’s dystopian drama, O Último Azul (The Blue Trail) had its world premiere at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival where it won the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize.

On June 17, after the Special Projects Committee Global Cinema Series screening in Los Angeles, via video from China, Mascaro discussed the making of the film during a Q&A moderated by Special Projects Committee member Lily Mariye and revealed how he worked closely with his editors, Sebastián Sepúlveda and Omar Guzmán, and composer Memo Guerra to create a playful tone for the film, even in more serious moments of tension.

“I wanted to feel that there is a band playing inside of the cinema. This is not a movie where the soundtrack will reinforce feelings. We made counterintuitive sounds because when the character is fired from the factory, we’re not going to use the more emotional, sad song. [I said] ‘Let’s make the opposite. Let’s make something funny and happy!’ So, you never understand the sometimes counterintuitive feelings. But then when she’s feeling something, the music is showing another something that’s totally different from what you are watching.”

Mascaro’s other directorial credits include the features High-Rise, Neon Bull, August Winds, Housemaids, Avenida Brasília Formosa and the 2019 Sundance Grand Jury Prize nominated, Divine Love.