Jump to the good stuff: The Story | Some Thoughts | The Final Verdict
The Story:
Here the Whole Time (Quinze Dias) is a romantic drama about Filipe (Miguel Lallo), a gay teenager with body image issues who lives with his single mother, Rita (Débora Falabella). When their neighbors go away on a fifteen-day vacation, they have their son, Caio (Diego Lira), stay with them. This would be fine if Felipe and Caio got along, but they don’t.
Although Filipe and Caio were close as children, this changed when other kids started bullying Felipe for being overweight. Assuming Caio, who is thin, felt the same as the other kids, Felipe stopped spending time outside and retreated to the safety of his bedroom. Because of that, Caio felt that Felipe didn’t like him. So, when Caio is forced to live with Felipe for fifteen days, both of them need to find a way to get along. And with that, the drama begins.
Some Thoughts:
Here the Whole Time (Quinze Dias) is a delightful blend of romance and drama. Despite its serious themes of loneliness and bullying, it manages to keep the tone light and the story moving. And although Felipe has some bratty moments–he is a teenager after all–he’s loveable and easy to rout for. His relationship with his mother, Rita, is honest and sweet. Rita also has a subplot that blends in well with Felipe’s story arch.
The film also breaks away from stereotypes, with Felipe assuming that Caio is straight because he’s into sports and has no interest in musicals. And although Caio is out to his friends, who he introduces to Felipe, he never comes out to Felipe.
Acting, cinematography, and pacing are all well done. Lallo and Lira have a natural chemistry that makes their attraction believable. Felipe’s realization that even thin people have insecurities is subtle, especially when he’s at the pool with Melissa (Bel Moreira), one of Caio’s friends, who confides in him that she’s insecure about going into the pool. His overall growth as a character, which happens as he experiences the world instead of cooping himself up in his room, also has a natural progression. Watching Felipe realize that he’s no different than anybody else and that he deserves love is a delight.
The only fault this film has is that it lacks emotional highs and lows. However, the enjoyable nature and love for the characters makes this a very minor gripe.
The Final Verdict:
Here the Whole Time (Quinze Dias) breaks away from LGBT stereotypes and shows that romance comes in all shapes and sizes. If you like romance, don’t miss it.