Beyond the Universe
Depois do Universo
Overview
"Beyond the Universe" (original title: "Depois do Universo") tells the story of Nina (Giulia Be), a gifted pianist whose dreams of joining the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra are slipping away due to her battle with lupus, an autoimmune disease requiring her to undergo regular hemodialysis while awaiting a kidney transplant. Her pessimistic outlook on life is challenged when she meets Gabriel (Henry Zaga), a resident doctor at her hospital who is full of optimism.
Despite the professional conflict of a doctor-patient relationship, a powerful bond forms between them. Gabriel becomes Nina's biggest supporter, encouraging her not to give up on her musical aspirations and helping her find the strength to fight for her life and her dreams. Their burgeoning romance provides a beacon of hope, but is constantly tested by Nina's deteriorating health and the ethical dilemmas of their connection.
Core Meaning
The central message of "Beyond the Universe" is about embracing life and finding hope and love even in the face of immense adversity and mortality. Director Diego Freitas explores the idea that life's value is not measured by its length but by its depth and the connections we make. The film posits that love can be a powerful motivating force, capable of pushing individuals to pursue their dreams against all odds. It is a story about learning to appreciate the small moments and never giving up on one's passions, suggesting that love and memory can transcend physical existence.
Thematic DNA
Love Against All Odds
The core of the film is the romance between Nina, a patient facing a life-threatening illness, and Gabriel, her doctor. Their relationship defies professional ethics and the shadow of Nina's mortality. Gabriel risks his career to be with her, and Nina, who had closed herself off to love, finds in him a reason to live and dream again. Their connection highlights love's power to provide strength and hope in the darkest of times.
Chasing Dreams Amidst Adversity
Nina's primary goal is to play for the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra, a dream that seems impossible due to her lupus. The film charts her struggle to continue practicing and preparing for auditions while undergoing grueling medical treatments. Gabriel acts as the catalyst, reigniting her passion and providing the support she needs to keep fighting for her ambition, illustrating the theme of perseverance.
Mortality and the Meaning of Life
The film constantly confronts the fragility of life through Nina's illness and a tragic twist involving Gabriel. It raises questions about how one should live when faced with a limited amount of time. Instead of succumbing to despair, the narrative champions the idea of living fully, finding joy, and creating meaningful memories, suggesting that a life's impact is what truly matters.
Hope vs. Despair
Nina begins the film in a state of pessimism and resignation, overwhelmed by her health problems. Gabriel represents the opposite: unwavering optimism and a belief in making the most of every moment. Their relationship is a journey for Nina from despair back to hope, as Gabriel teaches her to see the beauty and possibility in her life again.
Character Analysis
Nina
Giulia Be
Motivation
Initially, her motivation is simply to survive her illness. After meeting Gabriel, her motivation shifts to fulfilling her lifelong dream of becoming a concert pianist, not just for herself, but as a way to honor the hope he instilled in her.
Character Arc
Nina begins as a talented but deeply pessimistic young woman who has allowed her chronic illness (lupus) to define her and extinguish her dreams. Her journey is one of rediscovering hope, passion, and the will to live through her relationship with Gabriel. She transforms from someone waiting for her life to end into someone who actively fights for her dreams and cherishes every moment, ultimately achieving her goal of playing with the orchestra.
Gabriel
Henry Zaga
Motivation
Gabriel is driven by a deep sense of empathy and a desire to bring comfort and happiness to his patients, especially Nina. He wants to show her that life is worth living, and his love for her motivates him to challenge hospital rules and his father's expectations.
Character Arc
Gabriel is an optimistic and caring resident doctor who carries his own emotional baggage, particularly a strained relationship with his father, Alberto, whom he blames for not being present for his mother's death. His arc involves learning to reconcile with his father and choosing to follow his heart by pursuing a relationship with Nina, despite the professional risks. He acts as the catalyst for Nina's transformation, but he also finds a profound connection that enriches his own life.
Alberto
João Miguel
Motivation
His initial motivation is to uphold hospital rules and protect his son's career. After Gabriel's death, his motivation becomes honoring his son's memory and atoning for his perceived failures as a father and husband.
Character Arc
Alberto is introduced as Gabriel's strict father and a senior doctor at the hospital who disapproves of his son's relationship with Nina. He is initially an obstacle. However, after Gabriel's tragic death, he undergoes a profound change. Wracked with guilt and grief, he redeems himself by taking a compatibility test and donating his kidney to Nina, fulfilling his son's wish to help her and making amends for his past aloofness.
Amanda
Viviane Araújo
Motivation
Drawing from her own experiences with illness, Amanda is motivated to prevent Nina from making a mistake she'll regret. She champions living and loving without fear of the future.
Character Arc
Amanda is a fellow hemodialysis patient who Nina befriends. She appears in only a few scenes but serves a crucial role. Her arc is static, but her impact is significant. She offers Nina blunt, heartfelt advice, urging her not to give up on her love for Gabriel out of fear.
Symbols & Motifs
The Piano
The piano symbolizes Nina's dreams, her passion, and her life force. When she is unable to play, her hope wanes. When Gabriel finds her a piano to practice on, it represents a renewal of her spirit and a tangible path back to her aspirations.
The piano is a recurring element, from her performances and auditions to the old, dusty piano Gabriel finds for her. Her final performance with the orchestra is the culmination of this symbolic journey, representing her triumph over adversity.
Universe Point Mountain
This location represents a place of peace, memory, and transcendence. It was a special place for Gabriel and his late mother. For Nina, it comes to symbolize her promise to Gabriel and the idea that their love continues 'beyond the universe.'
Gabriel promises to take Nina to Universe Point mountain once she recovers. After his sudden death, Nina travels there alone in the final scene, fulfilling the promise and finding a sense of spiritual connection with him, feeling his presence even in his absence.
The Stars and Universe Imagery
The recurring visual motifs of stars, clouds, and cosmic colors represent the film's title and central idea: that some connections, particularly Nina and Gabriel's love, are vast, profound, and not bound by earthly limitations. It symbolizes a love that transcends life and death.
The film opens with Nina musing about love amidst pink and blue hues and stars. The title itself, "Beyond the Universe," is invoked by Nina at the end, as she dedicates a song to Gabriel, believing he is watching over her.
Philosophical Questions
Does the value of a life depend on its length or its depth?
The film explores this question through Nina's journey. Faced with a potentially short life, she initially gives up on her dreams. Gabriel's love and tragic death teach her that a life, no matter how brief, can be profound and impactful. Her decision to pursue her dream and live fully, even after losing him, suggests the film's answer: the richness of experience and the love shared are what give life its ultimate meaning, not its duration.
Can love truly conquer all obstacles, even death?
"Beyond the Universe" presents a romanticized view where love is the primary catalyst for overcoming immense challenges. It gives Nina the strength to fight her illness and pursue her ambitions. After Gabriel's death, his love continues to motivate her, culminating in her successful performance and the kidney donation from his father. The film suggests that while love cannot conquer death physically, its influence, memory, and legacy can transcend it, shaping the lives of those left behind in a powerful and positive way.
Alternative Interpretations
While the film's ending is largely straightforward, the final scene where Nina is at Universe Point mountain can be interpreted in a few ways. The most direct interpretation is that she is fulfilling her promise to Gabriel and feeling his spiritual presence, honoring his memory.
A more metaphorical interpretation sees this scene not just as a personal tribute, but as Nina fully internalizing Gabriel's optimistic philosophy. By going to the place that symbolized his dreams and connection to the world, she demonstrates that his spirit and outlook on life now live on through her. The "reunion" is symbolic of her complete acceptance of hope over despair, carrying his legacy within her as she moves forward.
Cultural Impact
"Beyond the Universe" achieved significant international success for a Brazilian production on Netflix, ranking in the Top 10 in 43 countries and accumulating over 32 million hours watched in its first two weeks. This success was seen by its producers as proof that Brazilian films of various genres can appeal to both national and international audiences.
The film tackles the universal themes of love, loss, and illness, making it relatable to a broad audience despite its specific cultural setting in São Paulo, Brazil. While some critics found the story to be filled with clichés common to the romantic drama genre, many viewers connected deeply with its emotional and hopeful message. The casting of singer Giulia Be in her first acting role also drew considerable attention, and her performance was generally praised, along with her on-screen chemistry with Henry Zaga.
Audience Reception
Audience reception for "Beyond the Universe" was largely positive, with many viewers finding it to be a touching and emotional story. The chemistry between the lead actors, Henry Zaga and Giulia Be, was frequently praised as a highlight. Many viewers connected with the film's message of hope and perseverance.
However, a common point of criticism was that the film relied heavily on clichés of the romantic drama and "sick-lit" genres. Some critics and viewers found the plot predictable and overly sentimental. The film's two-hour runtime was also noted as being slightly too long, with some scenes feeling unnecessary to the main plot.
Interesting Facts
- The film marked the acting debut of popular Brazilian singer-songwriter Giulia Be, who plays the lead role of Nina.
- Giulia Be wrote and performed a song specifically for the film, also titled "Depois do Universo" ("Beyond the Universe"), which is featured in the soundtrack.
- Director Diego Freitas was inspired to create the film for his late mother, who had also been on a transplant list, and he aimed to portray the experience with authenticity.
- To prepare for her role, Giulia Be met with patients to understand their stories and embody the essence of their experiences.
- The film was produced by Camisa Listrada, a Brazilian production company known for the successful Netflix original "Just Another Christmas".
- Upon its release on Netflix on October 27, 2022, the film quickly gained international attention, appearing in the Top 10 most-watched non-English films globally for multiple weeks.
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