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".
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.
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".