The Way He Looks
2014 · Directed by Daniel Ribeiro
Original language: Portuguese
- drama
- romance
The story
Leonardo is a blind teenager dealing with an overprotective mother while trying to live a more independent life. To the disappointment of his best friend, Giovana, he plans to go on an exchange program abroad. When Gabriel, a new student in town, arrives at their classroom, new feelings blossom in Leonardo making him question his plans.
What it’s like
Sunlit São Paulo streets and crowded school corridors in warm, saturated daylight, with the camera often staying close at shoulder height so the world arrives as much through sound and touch as through sight. Traffic and chatter swell and fall away, and the tap of a cane on tile and the rustle of paper carry scenes. Pop and acoustic songs lift the more buoyant moments, and home interiors feel lived-in and softly lit. The vibe is warm, funny and wistful, a gentle coming-of-age story for a lazy weekend afternoon or a comfort watch. The pacing is unhurried and conversational, built around friendship, shy crushes and a teenager testing how much independence he can claim from an anxious mother. Its emotional register is sweet and honest rather than heavy, arcing slowly from cautious self-doubt toward tentative hope. Intensity is very low: romance stays bashful, with a kiss and some teasing rather than sex, and violence is limited to brief mentions of schoolyard unkindness. It suits viewers who want a tender LGBT romance with a blind lead and warm Brazilian settings, with no darkness.
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