Interview: Rodrigo Santoro on The Blue Trail
Rather than presenting an overtly apocalyptic future, The Blue Trail takes a more understated approach to its dystopian world. Gabriel Mascaro’s film imagines a society where a mandatory retirement policy has been normalised, following 77-year-old Tereza (Denise Weinberg) as she is forced away from her independent life and set on a path towards state care. Refusing to accept that future, she embarks on an adventure through the Amazon Rainforest in an attempt to hold onto some sense of autonomy before it is taken from her.
What follows is a character-driven story built on a series of episodic encounters, blending understated humour with more reflective themes around ageing, agency and the ways in which control can be framed as care. Set against the vast Amazon landscape, the film moves away from spectacle, instead focusing on smaller, more human moments.
READ OUR REVIEW OF THE FILM HERE
Rodrigo Santoro (300, Ben-Hur, Project Power) plays Cadu, a solitary boatman who joins the journey as the two travel along the river. In our conversation, he discusses the film’s unique tone, balancing warmth and humour within an apocalyptic framework and his approach to Cadu’s initially reserved nature. He also reflects on building a natural on-screen dynamic with Weinberg, working within the Amazon environment, and navigating a story shaped by character-led encounters rather than a traditional narrative arc.
Santoro also shares his thoughts on the film’s central themes, particularly its exploration of independence and the quiet normalisation of oppressive systems, as well as reflecting on the current international attention surrounding Brazilian cinema and the kinds of projects that continue to draw him in.
You can watch the full interview here:
The Blue Trail is in UK cinemas from April 17th.
