Proceeded by the highly acclaimed pilot short I Don’t Want to Go Back Alone, Daniel Ribeiro’s debut feature The Way He Looks tenderly explores the awakening sexuality of a blind teenage as he discovers first love and desire within the turmoil of adolescence. Ribeiro explains how his depiction of a blind perspective shaped a variety of production decisions, from choice of lenses through to sound design.
The Way He Looks (2014)
Leonardo is a blind teenager dealing with an overprotective mother whilst trying to live a more independent and exciting life. To the disappointment of his best friend, Giovana, he plans to go on an exchange programme abroad, but when Gabriel, a fresh-faced and cute new student arrives in town and in their class, new feelings blossom in Leonardo making him question his plans to move away.
I didn’t want to make things that are outside the discovery of sexuality to overshadow the main focus of what I wanted to talk about.
