The directors found inspiration in the early Disney animated features, particularly Sleeping Beauty, in the use of color and music in key sequences.
The lobisomem is a creature in the mythology of South America. In Brazil, it is thought to be a werewolf who mainly attacks women. In the movie it's a little bit mixed with another folkloric creature, the "boto" (that is a fresh water dolfin that transforms itself in human and seduce women around folkloric parties night) since Ana is seduced by the werewolf father in a party, and get pregnant.
The latin phrase on the doormat reads "Olim pulchra filia regia". This roughly translates as "Once upon a time a beautiful princess".
At Joel's birthday party, the landlady says that she made a delicious "carne louca". Carne louca is a traditional "children's party food" in Brazil and is pretty much like a sloppy joe, but instead of minced, the meat is pulled and is eaten inside the bread. The name of the dish, carne louca, is translated literally as "crazy meat".
The "Bosque de Cristal" mall is as a matter of fact the Eldorado Shopping in São Paulo with some post production "make up". It's located by the Pinheiros River shore, "3 bridges away". As a matter of fact from the outskirts of São Paulo to this mall there are a lot more bridges, but it could easily be done by the same suburban train they catch in the movie.