Carla Chambel, a Portuguese actress and mum, takes us on a journey about the relationship with water and action with our freshwater resources.  From her childhood memories, she embarks on a journey to delve deeper and find answers to her social and ecological concerns. 

But as she investigates her doubts, listening to local communities, scientists and farmers, she is confronted with the growing expansion of intensive irrigated monocropping in the Alentejo region, the disruption of freshwater ecosystems, the loss of biodiversity and the encouragement of the construction of more dams for irrigation purposes in Portugal.

As she investigates her concerns, she speaks with local communities, scientists and farmers, and becomes acutely aware of the alarming expansion of intensive irrigation monoculture farming in the Alentejo region and the imbalance of freshwater ecosystems, loss of biodiversity, and construction of more dams for irrigation purposes in Portugal.

Could it be that using more ecological, sustainable and less water-dependent agricultural practices, in addition to efficient water management, is not a alternative to dealing with water scarcity?

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From the ideia to the screen

With funding from the MAVA Foundation (2019-2022) and the DIMFE Foundation (2023-2025), the Rios Livres GEOTA team, in partnership with GERADOR, developed and produced an environmental documentary with the aim of raising awareness and alerting the public to the growing expansion of intensive agriculture and, consequently, irrigation in Portugal. The documentary highlights the consequences, contradictions and implications of these agricultural choices for a future that is resilient to climate change. It also sought to inform and emphasise the need for efficient soil and water resource management by promoting more ecological and sustainable forms of agriculture.

The invitation to actress and theatre director Carla Chambel came about because of her environmentalist profile and her involvement in major social and cultural causes. Her personal history served as a guiding thread throughout the story, fuelled by her natural curiosity and empathy, ensuring impartiality and a unique perspective on the problems encountered and the path forward.

In four months, we travelled more than 5,000 km through the southern regions of the country, talking to environmental activists, people from the various villages we passed through, scientific researchers, representatives of associations, citizen movements and local authorities.

“Up to the last drop” is not limited to a problem affecting southern Portugal, it reflects the ecological, economic and social drama of several regions in southern Europe. We hope to inspire you to take a new perspective on water. After all, it is water that unites us… across the entire planet.

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