Beyond the Universe (Netflix, 2022)
Beyond The Universe is a sincere but overtly sentimental drama, that for a long time coasts by on the chemistry between its two appealing leads, Giulia Be and Henry Zaga.
Brazilian singer-songwriter Giulia Be plays the talented pianist Nina, who suffers from lupus: an autoimmune disease that attacks her own body.
While she awaits a kidney transplant, she befriends a young doctor, Gabriel (Henry Zaga), who helps her develop a more positive outlook on life and fulfill her lifelong dream to play as a solo pianist with the best orchestra in São Paulo.
Gabriel, for his part, has to deal with the expectations put upon him by his father, who is the chief doctor at the same hospital where Nina is treated.
It would be easy to dismiss Beyond The Universe (Depois do Universo) as a sentimental love story. Because, frankly, that’s what it is. The script is full of coincidences and improbability’s, with pianos popping up everywhere, when needed by Nina.
However, there is something palpably real about the chemistry between Be and Zaga and director Diego Freitas (O Segredo Di Davi) milks their relationship for all that it’s worth.
Henry Zaga is an experienced actor, who was also in the ill-fated X-men spin-off The New Mutants. He is fine, while accomplished singer Giulia Be shines brightly in het first proper acting role. If anything, this movie could be the start of an illustrious career for her.