Aos Teus Olhos

Liquid Truth is about a swimming instructor who has been accused of inappropriately kissing a young boy. This piece of cinema is a complete roller-coaster of emotions, anxiety and moral misbehavior that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Exquisitely scripted and directed movie that touches moral landscape of modern society highly affected by social media. Daniel de Oliveira who plays the main character Rubens, leading in an impressively complex yet balanced performance that nails the character's shift from easygoing confidence to bewildered devastation and vulnerability. Though the movie ends abruptly, it sure delivers its message completely. So far, the best drama I have seen this year.

Thematically evokes comparisons with 'Doubt' (John Patrick Shanley, 2008) and/or 'The Hunt' (Thomas Vinterberg, 2012), the movie's clever, incisive script offers a complete roller-coaster of emotions and anxiety that always keeps its audiences guessing. Carolina Jabor's excellent direction also manages to cast such ambiguity and shadows to the characters to focus on the multiple ways social media is impacting our moral landscape. Daniel De Oliveira gives an impressively complex performance that doesn't depend on taking one clear position or another. Though the movie ends abruptly, it sure delivers its message completely.

Unlike some reviewers, I loved the ending to this gripping film about alleged abuse. The nature of the ambiguous ending ensures that the viewer must judge how alleged abuse is handled -- in this case, appallingly -- with social media playing its usual invidious role.

If there had been a neat ending to the film -- one way or another -- the viewer would not dwell on how the abuse is handled, which is really the whole point of the film -- not the question of guilt or innocence.

The direction and writing is superb. And the lead actor rivetingly good in portraying how a life can quickly become unglued.