MOVIE MONDAYS: THE WAY HE LOOKS

Growing up is both fun and scary. You learn a lot both in and out of school. You make and lose friends along the way. You fall deeply in and out of love with both fictional and real people. There are times where you can't wait to be an adult and times where you look back and wish you were you young again. Coming of age is a collection of moments that we all experience when given enough time. Though our stories differ they still have something in common - we are each given the chance to figure out who we are and learn how to fend for ourselves in this world. The Way He Looks  is one boy's story that I found quite interesting.

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Source:  Peccadillo

I rocked up to the Cornerhouse on my birthday to meet up with the lovely Emily, a fellow blogger whom I had the pleasure of meeting a couple weeks prior, to see the screening of The Way He Looks. As usual I had no idea what to expect. Saw the poster, found out it was a subtitled Brazilian film and that there was a director Q&A session afterwards and I was sold. After seeing The Golden Dream earlier this year, I had a feeling that attending this special screening of The Way He Looks will also leave me inspired and give me another insight into the world of film-making. 

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The Way He Looks is Daniel Ribeiro's debut feature-length film based on his award-winning short film I Don't Want to Go Home Alone. It is a funny coming of age story that highlights the dynamic nature of Leonardo's relationships with those around him and gives us an insight as to how he sees the complex beauty of the world during his time as an adolescent. It also serves a platform that questions the source of one's sexuality when one of the most heavily relied on senses is taken out of the picture. Daniel Ribeiro not only took on the role of this film's director, he also wrote the script that subtly schools the viewers on the beauty of classical music. Leonardo, a bright, driven and honest lad, and his loyal best friend Giovanna, a funny, smart girl unafraid to speak her mind, were played remarkably well by Ghilherme Lobo and Tess Amorim respectively. And the role of the friendly and caring Gabriel whose curly mane made mine look quite pathetic was played by Fabio Audi. The chemistry between all the characters was such that the story unfolded with ease and I was sucked into a world where the possibility of having your first kiss and being considered as adult by your parents was the main problem.

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So, if you are in the mood for a coming of age story that reminds you what it is like to be teenager and itching to prove yourself to the world that you are fully capable of being independent then this could be one for you to watch. Above is the trailer and below is the short film I Don't Want to Go Home.

Enjoy!

Mo x

P.S. A post on the Q&A session with Daniel Ribeiro is in the works.