BFI London Film Festival: The Way Out

Adapted from his own award-winning short, first-time feature filmmaker Daniel Ribeiro more than lives up to his early promise with this beautifully realised and effortlessly romantic tale of the joys and woes of young love. Blind since birth, high school student Leonardo spends all his time with devoted best friend Giovana. Dependant on each other in different ways, the duo’s harmony is interrupted by the arrival of handsome new student Gabriel. As the two boys form a close friendship, Giovana begins to feel ostracised. Now Leonardo must make sense of his feelings towards Gabriel and work out how to save his friendship with Giovana.

With love stories so often told through the exchange of furtive glances and lustful looks, Ribeiro finds imaginative ways to convey romantic desire without the luxury of sight. Aided by three beautifully nuanced performances from the young leads, this is cinema of pure joy, pitched to perfection and overflowing with charm and sensitivity. [Michael Blyth]

Tickets for London Film Festival screenings can be purchased through the BFI and BFI Box Office 020 7928 3232 (9.30am-8.30pm daily) or the London Film Festival website: bfi.org.uk/lff