The Way He Looks [Hoje Eu Quero Voltar Sozinho] **** (2014, Ghilherme Lobo, Fábio Audi, Tess Amorim) – Classic Movie Review 12,334

Ghilherme Lobo plays a São Paulo blind high school kid struggling with his independence. His whole world changes with the arrival of new student Gabriel. The 2014 Brazilian gay film The Way He Looks is an exceptionally sweet coming-of-age romantic drama

If this film were any sweeter its teeth would fall out. That’s a compliment by the way. The 2014 Brazilian gay film The Way He Looks [Hoje Eu Quero Voltar Sozinho] is an exceptionally, quite extraordinarily nice and lovely coming-of-age romantic drama, written and directed by Daniel Ribeiro, based on his 2010 short film I Don’t Want to Go Back Alone [Eu Não Quero Voltar Sozinho].

The Way He Looks is simple, straightforward, and as true and tender as love stories come. Ghilherme Lobo, Fábio Audi, and Tess Amorim, reprise their star roles from the original.

Ghilherme Lobo plays Leonardo (Leo), a São Paulo blind high school student struggling with his independence from his over-protective parents, and Tess Amorim plays his best friend Giovana (Gi), who start the film off by discussing how they have yet to kiss anyone. That is of course about to change. A new student named Gabriel (Fábio Audi) is the catalyst for change. One day he arrives in their classroom and takes the empty seat behind Leonardo. The teacher pairs them up for a project. Giovana expresses romantic interest in Gabriel, but her flirty classmate Karina (Isabela Guasco) pursues him. But neither of the girls is in luck, with Leo eventually admitting that he is in love with Gabriel (Gabe).

Leo’s quest for independence and grown-up love is balanced by his terror of rejection, as he thinks Gabe doesn’t love him back. The film’s sweetness is balanced by a sharp reality with Leo’s constant taunting by the bullies in his class. Gleefully bullying a blind kid, eh?, that’s really shocking. Yet the film stays warm and optimistic. It is truthful, thoughtful and poignant, as well as entertaining. The performances are perfect, Ghilherme Lobo is outstanding as the blind boy, but Audi and Amorim are excellent too, and the support players convince. Script and handling are remarkably sensitive and subtle. Pierre de Kerchove’s cinematography, entirely on location in São Paulo, and the soundtrack (including Belle & Sebastian’s ‘There’s Too Much Love’ and David Bowie’s ‘Modern Love’) are exceptional, adding much mood and atmosphere.

The Way He Looks had its world premiere at the Panorama section of the 64th Berlin International Film Festival on 10 February 2014.

It was released in Brazil on 10 April 2014. It fared well. On a R$2.7 million cost, it earned R$6.9 million at the cinema box office.

Peccadillo Pictures released it in the UK in November 2014.

The cast are Ghilherme Lobo as Leonardo, Fábio Audi as Gabriel, Tess Amorim as Giovana, Eucir de Souza as Carlos, Isabela Guasco as Karina, Selma Egrei as Maria, Júlio Machado as Professor, Naruna Costa as Professora, Lúcia Romano as Laura, Victor Filgueiras as Guilherme, and Pablo Carvalho as Fabio.

The Portuguese title Hoje Eu Quero Voltar Sozinho translates as Today I Want to Go Back Alone.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 12,334

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