The vast Gran Chaco natural region in Paraguay is under serious threat from large-scale deforestation and wildfires. Filmmaker Sebastian Pena Escobar travels with the German entomologist Ulf Drechsel and the Paraguayan ornithologist Jota Escobar to this vulnerable, flammable area, which looks like an apocalyptic landscape with red dirt roads and dry thorny trees.
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This is the directorial feature debut for Sebastian Pena Escobar. The film had its worldwide debut at the International Documentary Film Festival in Amsterdam in November 2023. It has played in Germany and Poland before debuting in theatres across Paraguay in September 2024. Escobar recently won the Student Jury Prize at the 33rd Biarritz Latin Festival in France. He also won the Best Documentary Award at the 26th Punta del Este International Film Festival in Uruguay.
The Academia de Cine del Paraguay officially announced that The Last would represent Paraguay on October 4th.
The film is produced by Bocacha Films, with the help of La Babosa Cine and La Fabrica Nocturna Cinema.
The Last is a documentary and it was filmed in Chovoreca in the Gran Chaco area in Paraguay.
To check out all previous submissions for Paraguay, click HERE.
“The sooner everything collapses, the more things will survive.”
The Last, directed by Sebastián Peña Escobar, is a powerful and thought-provoking documentary that brings attention to the environmental devastation in Paraguay’s Gran Chaco region. Through a road trip undertaken by Escobar and two scientists, German entomologist Ulf Drechsel and Paraguayan ornithologist Jota Escobar, the film captures the dire effects of deforestation and climate change on this vulnerable landscape. Yet, despite its heavy subject matter, the documentary is infused with humour, camaraderie, and a deep love for the natural world, making it an engaging and compelling watch.
The Last is stunning, offering apocalyptic imagery that paints the Gran Chaco as a land on the brink of collapse. Overhead shots of bone-dry fields, red dirt roads, and smoldering forests create a sense of desolation, while the intense sound design amplifies the urgency of the situation. The increasingly red visuals serve as a metaphor for the worsening environmental crisis, with the landscape resembling something out of a nightmare. However, this visual heaviness is balanced by moments of beauty that celebrate the resilience of nature, reminding viewers of what’s at stake.
The heart of the documentary lies in the interactions between Escobar and his two scientist companions. As they travel through the devastated region, their discussions range from the practical effects of climate change to more philosophical questions about humanity’s role in the destruction of the planet. Their banter, filled with black humour and irony, adds a layer of warmth and relatability to the film, making their grim conclusions, that humanity may be doomed, easier to digest. The trio’s chemistry feels natural and infectious, turning the film into a kind of buddy movie, even amidst such a bleak topic.
What makes The Last particularly unique is its ability to balance despair with a sense of adventure and love for nature. While the film reveals the devastation caused by human actions, it is also an ode to the beauty and fragility of the environment. The scientists’ enthusiasm for their work and their deep connection to the natural world shine through, making the audience care even more about the fate of the Gran Chaco. Despite the harsh reality of what is shown, the film never fully succumbs to hopelessness, leaving room for reflection and a desire for change.
The Last is more than just a documentary about climate change, it is a moving reflection on the relationship between humanity and the earth. With its stunning visuals, engaging characters, and powerful message, it offers a sobering yet hopeful look at the future. Sebastián Peña Escobar’s film is both a lament for what has been lost and a call to action, making it a must-see for anyone passionate about the natural world. And in the end, the lingering question we’re left with is if, by default, every civilization has been hostile to nature, if our behaviour as a species seems to be irreversible, what’s there to do?