The Way He Looks

This is a really fine film that is unusual in several gratifying ways. It is actually a story about the blossoming of a good and growing friendship into a physical as well as emotional love affair and is, in a sense, only gay because the two people involved are both late teenaged boys - fortunately for the viewer one aspect of gayness is attended to in that they are two quite handsome and adorable boys. However, the film, as the director says in a section of the bonus features, is about love and not lust, so the boys are beautiful but not fashion models. The relationship is not bracketed and set off as unique because the two people falling in love are both boys hence queer, hence troubled, hence afflicted and miserable through stress and fears of ostracism.. Rather, and in this it parallels the also excellent film Silent Youth, it is an exploration of how two unusual people fall in love, but is a tale told with the underlying assumption that there are fundamental, human similarities between this story and a lot of other types of love stories as well as. of course, also some interesting and unique aspects to the events recounted in the film. In this it perhaps reflects the growing realization by non-gay people (thank you 40 years of gay film makers, activists, etc.) that the preference for same sex plumbing doesn't make the characters freakish, doomed, or self destructive. The homosexual and gay dimensions of Leo and Gabriel's friendship aren't really an issue for anybody in the film but the poor, oafish chief bully from their school who picks on Leo and Gabriel throughout the film. Finding love is a quest for the characters, and that is symbolized by the search for an appropriate first kiss. But to add crispness and focus to the plot one boy is unusual because he is blind and blind from birth. Hence the question of what is involved by two boys falling in love and of what it means if one of them has absolutely no idea what anything, let alone a drop dead gorgeous best friend, looks like is important. Leonardo falls for Gabriel because Gabriel is a loving, attentive, and nurturing friend who helps Leonardo cope with his increasing frustration at the limitations his doting but overprotective parents place on him and the conflicts he has with the school bullies, etc. And, Gabriel is also a friend who clearly likes just hanging out with Leo. There some quite fine scenes where the camera observes Gabriel staring happily at Leonardo, who, as he is blind, has no idea that Gabriel is doing this. There is real pleasure in the eloquence and humor of the scene where one of Gabriel's earliest attempts to help his friend involves teaching him the rudiments of dancing. There are many other things to like, admire, and enjoy about this film; one of them is that, unlike many coming out films, the burgeoning relationship between the two boys is extensively depicted by scenes of their interaction that don't include a great deal of drama about the sociopolitical, personal, and psychological difficulties of coming out as gay. Mostly Leonardo and Gabriel are just two teenagers sometimes awkwardly, but always persistently, trying to get to know each other. And they spend a fair bit of time being happy together. While there is a set of oafish bullies they are annoying and humiliating school bullies, but not homicidal maniacs. Further,,a life of being gay suggested to me, and may suggest to others that the chief bully wouldn't mind having his way with Leonardo, but is too confused. repressed and dimwitted to even realize what his motivations are about. The film seems to me to be carefully crafted. In the bonus feature of the really fine original short film there is a scene where the blind Leonardo thinks he is talking to one character but is actually talking to another. The fact that Leonardo is falling for Gabriel is revealed by the fact that when he thinks he is alone he inhales deeply the odors of Gabriel's sweatshirt. So, when Leonardo is approached by the person who very much isn't who Leonardo thinks he is talking with, one could have wondered why he didn't recognize that the smell of the person before him wasn't the smell of the person who he thought he was talking to - but Ribiero had included a brief and immediately previous scene indicating that poor Leonardo has allergies that day so probably couldn't smell anything at all. The bonus features are quite pleasing. Ribiero crafts his scenes carefully hence the short film is as well put together as a good short story and every element contributes to the unfolding of the story and the final scene. The longer film is more like a novella and equally well crafted. All three of the central characters are played by quite gifted actors who clearly have acting chemistry and who create characters that aren't merely likeable, but are fully three dimensional believable human beings. An example might be the shower scene where Gabriel finally sees Leo totally naked and is made biologically aware that he finds Leo very much to his tastes. Fabio Audi makes the character Gabriel's distressing realization that he is in a public shower displaying clear evidence of strongly and definitely liking Leonardo in a lot of ways both touching, funny, and refreshingly free of any twee overtones that with a less committed actor, could have crept in. Perhaps unfortunately, a really pleasing prefiguration of this shower scene occurs earlier in the film when Leonardo asks his grandmother what Gabriel looks like and she says that he is so pale that he is almost transparent. This scene had been cut, according to the director, for reasons of pacing.. However, here Gabriel's activities make his inner life "transparent" or visible to the audience. But, as Ribiero points out in a bonus feature, he decided to remove it for reasons of pacing. Fun to see, in all events. Ghileherme Lobo is quite amazing as Leonardo. He is so convincingly "blind" that almost everyone that I know thought he was a blind guy who was a great actor. But he is a sighted guy who is a fine actor. The level of skills demonstrated by the three main characters and by most of the supporting characters is quite high. I liked the film so much that I bought the DVD, and probably many people will make the same choice.

There aren't yet many first-love gay movies with happy endings, but "The Way He Looks" has one, and it's great — really uplifting without being saccharine (for which I have a very low tolerance). Other reviews cover the plot, but I wanted to add my 5-star recommendation. All of the main characters are perfectly cast and very relatable. In addition to the engaging story, the soundtrack is great, especially the catchy theme song. The special features are also great, including well-chosen and well-narrated deleted scenes, and a short version of the film made 4 years earlier; both of these extras contribute significantly to the storyline and really enrich the experience. (The extras have English subtitles, and the feature film has optional subtitles in English and Spanish plus an optional English audio descriptive track.) "The Way He Looks" and "Beautiful Thing" are my 2 favorite movies in this genre, and both are among my Top 10 favorite films of all time in any genre.

I remember seeing this film a long time ago netflix. What an amazing film. Not to sound cheesy, but love is never blind. Also, this film raises an excellent point subconsciously, can a blind person be considered gay if they have never seen what either sex looks like? That is why I don't consider this film to be a "gay" film...it is a love film.

"The Way He Looks" is an understated Portuguese-language teen drama from Brazil that explores the sexual awakening and coming-of-age of Leo (Ghilherme Lobo), a blind high school student living in an affluent section of Sao Paulo. Based on a short film featuring the same cast (a few years younger), this film will be presented to audiences as a LGBT-interest indie film, but the heart of the story is actually about Leo's struggle for independence and acceptance as a blind teenage. The film opens with Leo and his best friend Giovanna (Tess Amorim) lounging by the pool hoping that something exciting will happen to them during the next school year. That excitement arrives in the form of Gabriel (Fabio Audi), a handsome, quiet new student at Leo's school who befriends Leo and Giovanna and becomes a member of their group. What follows is a subtle, well paced story about teenage friendship, yearning for independence, and first romance. The film's success rides on the truly wonderful performances by the young cast. Lobo's portrayal of Leo stands out; his performance as a blind individual is entirely natural, to the point where I was surprised to learn the actor himself was not blind. Equally good is Audi, who does an excellent job of filling out Gabrielle as a character and infusing him with charm and longing in unexpected ways. Amorin is well cast as the plucky, but long-suffering Giovanna, adding drama and humor to carry the plot along at pivotal moments. All three actors have great chemistry, which comes across most clearly in the physicality of their roles - as Giovanna and Gabrielle take turns guiding Leo and being close to him. There is an undeniable sensuality that builds throughout the movie. The cinematography, editing, and direction of the film create a beautiful, sunny green suburban environment, and highlight the beauty of the actors, while also helping illuminate the sensory ways in which Leo's character experiences the world. The script for the full-length film helped fill out the characters and create a larger story for Leo to inhabit, which includes relationships with his parents and grandmother which did not appear in the original short film All in all I highly recommend this film - it was charming and cute, the sort of coming-of-age film you rarely see made well.

This is true gem, slightly obscured because the actors don't speak English and you need to read subtitles. There is an English sound track but the parts are all spoken by a woman with a man explaining scene setups and changes. I found the English soundtrack to be annoying, if not worthless. The best way to experience this film is to watch the movie and read the subtitles. Once you understand what is happening in the various scenes and scenarios, then watch the movie again to get the real depth of the acting. This movie was inspired by the short film titled "I don't want to go back alone." The story line stays close to the short film but expands on the experiences of the main character, Leonardo, and his being a blind teenager, coming of age and falling in love, and the interactions with his closest friends and his family. The film is situated in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and the actors speak Portuguese. The HD transfer seems decent and played flawlessly, I would guess the film was done with all digital equipment as I see very little noise. The main sound track is clear and has plenty of volume.

Nicely done -- character development A+ and woven around a gentle, sweet storyline. Very believable -- the young actors are totally natural, the development is easy and not forced or contrived, which can easily be a pitfall in this subject matter. The adding the angst of each of the characters keeps the focus on how difficult it is to understand and deal with one's own sexuality, be it gay or straight is a great choice and keeps the theme very universal rather than making it as something only gays deal with. Well worth the watch.

"The Way He Looks" is an absolute gem, an epic journey of love and self-discovery that strikes a beautiful chord in the heart. As someone on a quest to learn Portuguese and a fan of queer cinema, this film was more than just another flick; it was an enchanting cultural and emotional immersion. The storyline is simple, but that's where its magic lies. There's an authentic beauty in its simplicity that makes the emotions and experiences of the characters palpably relatable. The film adeptly encapsulates the thrill, the uncertainty, the exhilaration, and the heartbreak of young love, all wrapped up in a heartwarming package. Representation in cinema is key, and "The Way He Looks" handles this with commendable grace. It doesn't merely put characters in a box or make their identities the entire plot, but instead, it celebrates their diversity in an organic and nuanced manner. It's this aspect that makes the film stand out in the genre. The emotional weight of this movie is potent. It's like a well-crafted symphony of feelings that reverberates within long after the credits roll. It brought tears to my eyes, not because of an overtly tragic scene, but due to the deep resonance I felt with the characters' journeys. For teenagers seeking representation, or for anyone wanting to understand the beauty and complexities of young love, this movie provides a comforting embrace. It's like a friend telling you, "Hey, you're seen, you're important, and your feelings are valid." In conclusion, "The Way He Looks" is an unmissable experience. It isn't just a movie; it's a canvas of emotion, a relatable portrayal of life's twists and turns, and a celebration of love in its purest form. It's a feel-good film that leaves you with a warm glow and a reassured heart, and isn't that what great cinema is all about?

This film is engaging and thought provoking. It follows a blind teenager as he struggles through challenges with school, bullies, friends, and being gay. The storyline is well written, and the actors did a great job portraying their characters.