The Luminous Life

A dreamy, newly minted twenty-four-year-old takes tentative steps toward adulthood as Lisbon meets the glow of the spring sun, in a warm and insightful feature debut about being young in our time.

Nicolau is still living with his parents, dumped by a girlfriend who moved abroad. He dreams of a life in music, but in the boyhood room of the basement he begins to lose faith in the future. A move to a shared household, a few odd jobs, and regular visits to the cinematheque will, however, lead to a series of coincidences and unexpected encounters, giving Nicolau new perspectives on life. João Rosas paints a charming and heartfelt portrait of a young man caught in the confusion and melancholy of becoming an adult, following in the footsteps of Jean Eustache and Éric Rohmer.

• Rasmus Kilander