Brazil selects film on homosexuality for Oscars

The Way He Looks ("Hoje Eu Quero Voltar Sozinho", in the original Portuguese), directed by Daniel Ribeiro, was selected by the country’s Ministry of Culture to fight for the spot as the best foreign-language movie at the 2015 Oscars, Minister Marta Suplicy announced on Thursday (Sep 18). The picture was chosen among 17 other national features.

The plot centers on Leonardo, a blind teenager who struggles to cope with both his disability and an overprotective mother. Unexpectedly, however, along comes Gabriel, a new student in Leonardo’s class, who arouses in the protagonist feelings previously unknown to him.

Suplicy regards as positive the topic addressed in the film. “The movie is universal inasmuch as it depicts the feeling harbored by a teenager who’s surprised to discover himself sexually. [This feeling] is handled smoothly, which is not very often seen when it comes to homosexuality. It focuses on an age group in which it is rather difficult to address [the topic] in a sophisticated way, without falling into a cliché.”

The Academy will disclose in January the name of the foreign features to compete for the award. The Way He Looks premieres in the US on November 7.

Producer Diana Almeida also found it positive that the topic was taken to movie theaters overseas. “I hope the movie is watched by a large number of people. I think the announcement made today is by itself arousing a lot of curiosity […]. This is very positive.”

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira