Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Romantic Brazilian melodrama has sex, death.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Beyond the Universe
What's the Story?
Nina (Giulia Be) is an aspiring pianist who struggles with the long-term effects of an autoimmune disorder in BEYOND THE UNIVERSE. When she's diagnosed with renal failure, she has to start dialysis at a local hospital. There, she meets doctor in residence Gabriel (Henrique Zaga), whom she'd seen once before in a chance encounter, and the two quickly fall for each other. Nina's condition threatens her life and career, and Gabriel's job is at risk for dating a patient. How will the two overcome so many challenges?
Is It Any Good?
Melodrama teetering toward telenovela, this Brazilian romance stays afloat thanks to its charismatic young stars. For Beyond the Universe to work, you definitely have to suspend disbelief and just go along for the ride. But there's an element of magic here that suggests the filmmakers were hoping you would do precisely that. Be and Zaga make a stunning couple and their quick fall in love is sweet and youthful. Some of the attempts at humor fall flat, and better editing could have brought the film down from a long two hours. But the story's heart is in the right place, and the film captures a romantic Sao Paulo with saturated colors popping around concrete buildings and skies burning a sunset orange.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Nina's illness, lupus, that impacts her life from an early age in Beyond the Universe. Where could you go for more information about the short- and long-term effects of this condition?
What elements of magic did you see in this film? Do they make the rest of the story less believable? Why or why not?
What did you think of the ending? Did it surprise you? Do you think it was supposed to?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : October 28, 2022
- Cast : Henrique Zaga , Giulia Be , João Miguel
- Director : Diego Freitas
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Romance
- Topics : Friendship
- Run time : 127 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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