Beyond the Universe Review: This Netflix Movie Finding Hope Even in Tragedy Music, Love and Disease

Cast: Henrique Zaga, Giulia Be, João Miguel, Othon Bastos, Rita Assemany, Leo Bahia, Viviane Araújo, Isabel Fillardis and Denise Del Vecchio

Director: Diego Freitas

Streaming Platform: Netflix

Filmyhype.com Ratings: 3.5/5 (three and a half stars) [yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]

As we will see in our review of Beyond the Universe, the film talks about the saving power of love, the passion for music and illness, with the clear intention of raising awareness on a frightening subject, still too often stigmatized. Will Nina, a talented pianist suffering from lupus, be able to make her dreams come true? What is certain is that Gabriel will be at her side.

Can love to save our life? It would seem so, at least according to Diego Freitas, director of this new romantic drama by Netflix, available for streaming from 27 October. The film, entitled Beyond the universe, stars Giulia Be, one of the youngest and most popular Brazilian singer-songwriters, making her debut as an actress, and Henrique Zaga, already known to the public for her roles in Thirteen and The New Mutants but at its first interpretation in the Portuguese language.

Beyond the Universe Review: The Story Plot

Nina (Giulia Be) is a talented young pianist with very clear ideas: since she was a child her dream has always been to join the Symphonic Academy of Sao Paulo, Brazil. A dream hampered by her illness, lupus, which causes joint pain and severe kidney failure, compromising her quality of life and her ability to play. Despite this, Nina is determined not to give up her talent, continuing to give piano repetitions in a music school while she awaits a kidney transplant. One day, some news in the newspaper attracts the girl’s attention: the Symphonic Academy is looking for a solo pianist. This an unmissable opportunity for Nina, who decides to try her hand at the enterprise despite being forced to undergo hemodialysis sessions three times a week. An unfortunate circumstance, however, allows her to meet Gabriel (Henrique Zaga), a fascinating specialist in internal medicine that she practices precisely in the ward where she is undergoing therapy.

A great understanding was born immediately between the two, hindered, however, by the rules of the profession that would not allow a sentimental relationship between doctor and patient. But this will certainly not hinder a love that seems written in destiny. A great understanding was born immediately between the two, hindered, however, by the rules of the profession that would not allow a sentimental relationship between doctor and patient. But this will certainly not hinder a love that seems written in destiny. A great understanding immediately arose between the two, hindered, however, by the rules of the profession that would not allow a sentimental relationship between doctor and patient. But this will certainly not hinder a love that seems written in destiny.

Beyond the Universe Review and Analysis

From the very beginning, it is very clear that the primary intent of the film directed by Diego Freitas: is to sensitize the viewer on the theme of living with the disease, lupus, in particular, trying to break down prejudices and spreading awareness. Bringing this theme to light, without the fear of talking about it openly, helps to eliminate the stigma that still hovers over those who have the misfortune of having to combine serious health problems with an existence that is as normal as possible. The disease is scary, and too often people think that it is equivalent to a death sentence, without thinking that patients can love, and have dreams and passions like everyone else.

Nina shows us just this: lupus does not prevent her from pursuing what, since childhood, has always been her goal; of course, the obstacles are innumerable, but with the understanding and support of others, everything can become more manageable. But Gabriel’s work is also a manifestation of this: he not only treats patients but also strives to ensure that they can have better days. In an interview, the director confessed his hope that many people can identify with the plot of Beyond the Universe, and that he dedicates the film above all to his mother, who, unfortunately, was unable to obtain the transplant in time that waited.

Beyond the universe speaks of love, music and illness. But above all hope, which then represents the essential ingredient of all three of the aforementioned themes. In the film, hope springs directly from Nina’s courageous soul, who continues to fight for her dream despite the serious implications of her illness; but it is also a fundamental part of Gabriel, who instils love and optimism in the girl’s heart, urging her not to give up, especially in those moments when she would be tempted to throw in the towel. Diego Freitas’ is a fundamentally optimistic film, which encourages us to see the positive side of things and not to stop looking for a way out even in disgrace. Not surprisingly, the director himself said he was inspired by the recent pandemic for writing the script: finding a great love right in a moment of chaos and panic helped him to see beyond what bad was happening around him and in the world.

We can therefore say that the most important teaching of Beyond the Universe is this: do not be afraid to live. The choice of Giulia Be for the role of the protagonist proved undoubtedly spot on. Although Beyond the Universe of her represents her absolute debut as an actress, the Brazilian singer-songwriter plays Nina to perfection, too and above all the fact of being a pianist and a singer in real life. Music is undoubtedly how she manages to communicate with greater intensity, but still, her love for Giulia Be for art in all forms of her is clear. Henrique Zaga in the role of the resident doctor Gabriel is also quite suitable, although his character always seems a little too perfect and his words excessively rhetorical in all circumstances.

Beyond the Universe Review: The Last Words

Beyond the Universe is a story of love and music, which has as its main objective to spread awareness about the disease and to instil hope in those who are facing a particularly difficult moment in their life. Good debut as an actress of its protagonist, the Brazilian singer-songwriter Giulia Be, even if the characters are, in general, a bit stereotyped and excessively perfect.