Dangling plot-lines

I saw the movie nearly a month ago but from my memory
the father's wisdom helped settle Leo's emotion, so that he might think about whether studying abroad is a viable solution. This fatherly guidance seemed to indicate that the son would remain rational about his choice and stay local. But certainly the movie does not tell us that directly. In the end we seem to have evidence that Leo has very good reason to stay home.

How Gabriel learned at the party about Leo's plan to go abroad upset Gabriel enough that he acted on his feelings and kissed Leo and then raced away on his bicycle. So that small story arc about studying abroad became a vehicle for their 1st kiss.

The story provided some consolation for Gi, who had been somewhat a 3rd wheel. This was a "feel good" way to end. I found it sweet that the new boy smiled at her.

I've seen many comments about liking the short better. My opinion on that is the short was filmed 4 years before the feature. The actors were certainly much younger and so perhaps have some sort of appeal that way. Their innocence, perhaps? However, the feature is able to show us that Leo has reached the blossoming of his sexuality (his lone shower scene and later wearing Gabriel's hoodie to bed) and that at the same time he is able to process how is sexuality has unfolded. He is attracted to a boy. We don't get those kind of messages in such detail in the short. These scenes were remarkable. Frankly, I don't see much point in comparing the short and the feature. But I understand that some want to express a small disappointment in the feature by doing so. However, the feature has won the audience award at a number of festivals and so we can tell it seems to be a favorite. I agree with the majority. This was a good movie. I gave it 9 of 10 marks.

(spoilers)


1.

The boy's dad, in addition to showing openness, he states that he wants to be sure that the kid's not escaping from something other than simply wanting to know other places. It seems to me that the movie implies that this need for escaping has to do with the lack of self-acceptance (regarding sexual orientation) and hence not finding love. This is what the guy discusses with her mother at some point of the movie. I suppose that now that the blind boy has "solved" this issue it is clear that he has no intention to leave the country. In fact, when he receives the call from the exchange service lady, he lies to postpone the meeting and he doesn't mention the exchange idea to Gabriel either.

1.

When they did the shaving scene, they already ended the studying abroad problem,

But the director made this as a way to give Gabriel the right timing to express his feelings for Leo. When Gabriel was talking to Gi in the washroom, Gabriel said something about "letting a person know what you feel", but this line was delivered after Gi told him about Leo wanting to study abroad. I believe he wanted to tell this not just to Gi but to himself as well. (Look at how he refused when Gi tried to kiss him after he said that line. I also believe that this gave Gabriel the idea of kissing Leo as a way to let him know how he feels towards him.). I think the kiss affirms what he feels for Gabriel, and with it, he has a reason to stay in SP to study and not to pursue the program.

after the shaving scene and the kiss, there was no point for Leo to mention the study abroad program anymore. But i noticed he mentioned it again when he and Gi were drinking (after he thought Karina and Gabriel hooked up). This can prove that Gabriel could be the only reason why he'll stay. But with Gabriel and Karina being together, he once again wntertained the idea of studying abroad which, of course, will change again because of the second kiss. *wink*

Just my thoughts.

2.

William is Gi's prince charming, Yay! I agree it was a li'l corny, but I couldn't think of other ways to give Gi's story a happy ending. So I must say I like it, :-)

1) I always thought that Leonardo had abandoned the Exchange Program shortly after he met Gabriel.
2) Corny, but I think you're right. William was introduced to provide a romance for Giovana since Leo was lost to her.

My "Dangling Plot-Line" question was how the parents accepted the boys' new-found love. I never knew how accepting Brazil is toward LGBT people.