The Way He Looks

The Way He Looks – A Tender Coming-of-Age Tale of Identity, Love, and Freedom

The Way He Looks (Hoje Eu Quero Voltar Sozinho), directed by Daniel Ribeiro and released in 2014, is a beautifully intimate Brazilian coming-of-age film that explores adolescence, disability, and first love through a refreshingly gentle and authentic lens. Based on Ribeiro’s award-winning short film I Don’t Want to Go Back Alone, this feature-length adaptation expands its emotional scope without losing the subtle, heartfelt core that made the original so beloved.

The story centers around Leonardo, a blind teenager living in São Paulo. Quiet, thoughtful, and often overprotected by his parents, Leonardo yearns for independence. His best friend, the extroverted and fiercely loyal Giovana, is his closest companion, though their friendship is tested with the arrival of a new student, Gabriel. As Gabriel and Leonardo grow closer, Giovana begins to feel left out — and Leonardo begins to wrestle with unfamiliar feelings that challenge not just his understanding of friendship, but also his identity and future.

What makes The Way He Looks stand out is its warmth and lack of sensationalism. The film refuses to turn disability or sexuality into spectacle or trauma. Leonardo’s blindness is a part of his life, but not his defining trait. Likewise, his emerging queerness is handled with realism and care — there is no dramatic coming-out moment, no rejection, no exaggerated conflict. Instead, Ribeiro focuses on the small, emotional shifts that accompany growing up: jealousy, vulnerability, longing, and courage.

Ghilherme Lobo delivers a quietly powerful performance as Leonardo, capturing the character’s internal struggles with grace and authenticity. Fabio Audi, as Gabriel, brings softness and natural charm, while Tess Amorim’s portrayal of Giovana adds depth to what could have been a one-dimensional side character. The chemistry between the trio feels genuine, making their emotional entanglements all the more resonant.

Visually, the film is simple and warm, with soft lighting, gentle camera work, and a relaxed pacing that mirrors the story’s emotional tone. The soundtrack, filled with indie and acoustic tracks, perfectly complements the mood — nostalgic, hopeful, and intimate.

At its heart, The Way He Looks is a film about self-discovery — not just in terms of sexuality, but in understanding one's place in the world and claiming autonomy. It challenges assumptions about blindness, queerness, and adolescence without preaching or overexplaining. It simply lets the characters grow, stumble, and connect in their own time.

In an era crowded with loud, dramatic teen films, The Way He Looks is a refreshingly quiet and sincere story. It invites the audience to witness the small, meaningful moments that define us — the brush of a hand, a change in voice, a stolen glance — and reminds us that love, in any form, is most powerful when it’s allowed to blossom freely.

Ultimately, The Way He Looks is not just a queer love story or a film about disability — it is a universal tale about becoming who you are, and the people who help you get there.