The Way He Looks

Teenage life is hard enough at the best of times. For blind Brazilian Leonardo (Ghilherme Lobo), the rite of passage is further complicated by his unfamiliar yearnings for new boy Gabriel (Fabio Audi). Daniel Ribeiro’s debut is a lovely little gem that warrants comparison with Richard Linklater, navigating its subject with casual naturalism and tender observation.

With the characters rarely verbalising their attraction, Ribeiro impresses by turning over Leonardo’s awakening through elegant long takes and the actors’ endearing chemistry.