Although the movie was made in 1981, it had its premiere in 1987. The delay was because of state-imposed censorship due to the film's political content.
The idea of how a life can take different possible paths inspired at least three later films: Corra, Lola, Corra (1998), De Caso com o Acaso (1998), and Sr. Ninguém (2009).
This film is part of the Criterion Collection, spine #772.