There are many legal restrictions around the world where age is concerned. For instance, in England you’re allowed in a pub at the age of 14, but cannot buy alcohol. At 16 you can leave home, and join the Armed Forces. At 17 you can get your driving license for a car, and 18 you can do all the rest, such as voting, getting married and signing contracts.

This Brazilian film examines future laws in its own part of the world, but focusing on the older end of the age scale.

Working in the fish industry is 77 year old Teresa (Denise Weinberg). One day she returns to her humble home to find a metallic wreath placed on it. It’s to honour her age, apparently, and comes with a medal too. Teresa doesn’t take much notice of it, and goes back to work.

She then gets checked by a police woman in the street, who checking her ID, says she has to report to the government office.

Once there she’s informed that there have been changes to the law; she was under the impression that she was three years off of being sent to the colony, but it has changed to 75, meaning that she now qualifies.

She’s not keen on going to the colony, whatever it is, and although it’s promoted as being a great place for the elderly to go, it all sounds ominous to her.

So she decides to take her future into her own hands, and set off to fly in a plane for the very first time before she gets shipped off. Little does she know that it’s the start of a new adventure and a whole new lease of life.

Brazilian director Gabriel Mascaro’s film, which he also co-wrote, is a dystopian look at what appears to be the not-so-distant future. The colony is a mythical place, seen as being a peaceful sanctuary for the elderly, as well as them not being a strain on the younger generations.

It’s almost inferred as a death camp, and in that sense it has the spirit of 1976’s Logan’s Run, but less of a run, and more of an aided steady walk, thanks to the older demographic.

That slower pace can be felt throughout, as Teresa may well find herself on the wrong side of the law, but she takes her sweet time, and is never under any real threat.

It’s a story about never giving up on your dreams, regardless of your age, and attempting to live life to the fullest of whatever your capabilities are. It’s a sweet sentiment, but difficult to get behind, especially with so many darn Mr (and Mrs) Magoo’s driving badly on our streets. There are also drug and gambling references that are difficult to support, at any age.

Weinberg is delightful as the runaway OAP; she embarks on a journey, both metaphorical and physical, spending a lot of time on boats swanning up and down the Amazon, in search of her alternative future.

It’s beautifully shot, and although Mascaro’s vision of the future is subtle, with little hints of it here and there, it’s an absorbing adventure, albeit one at a leisurely pace.

With us seemingly in the age of the oldest population ever, despite the growing number diseases trying to bring it down, this film gives them hope, as well as a restful background to have a nap in front of.