Beyond the Universe 2022

Nina Soares is a gifted pianist who started playing at eight and dreamed of joining the São Paulo symphony by fourteen. Her talent leads to a dramatic collapse during a major recital, and shortly afterward she is diagnosed with lupus. As a young adult, she learns the disease has severely damaged her kidneys, leaving them functioning at less than 10%. She is placed on a kidney donor list and must endure four hours of dialysis three times a week, with the grim reality that more than 14,000 people stand ahead of her.

After a month of waiting, a new opportunity appears: the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra is seeking a piano soloist. While continuing her lessons at the conservatory, she is given a cautious chance to practice after hours, provided her studies stay on track. One day, while Nina is practicing near the hospital, a chance encounter unfolds—Gabriel emerges on a bike and crashes into the piano, sparked by his fascination rather than concern. He is a resident doctor at the hospital, known for brighten­ing up patients’ days, and he quickly becomes part of Nina’s life as their paths cross.

The next day, Nina discovers she is on Gabriel’s medical team, and the connection between them feels unexpectedly strong. Though she starts out pessimistic, his steady belief that she can fight through the pain helps her push forward. When the conservatory abruptly fires her, he finds her a makeshift practice piano and rushes her across town to apply for the audition, determined to help her chase the dream she loves.

Hospital director Doctor Alberto, who is also Gabriel’s father, calls him to remind him of the Hippocratic oath—an ethical nudge that threads through the story as Nina and Gabriel’s bond deepens. In a spontaneous exchange of skills, he teaches her to ride a bicycle while she teaches him to play piano, and their afternoon ends with dancing and a kiss. Across the long dialysis sessions, Nina befriends Amanda, an optimistic patient who credits her own hopeful outlook to her daughter. Observing the chemistry between Nina and Gabriel, Amanda senses Nina’s outlook might be changing for the better.

Despite lupus-related pain in her hands, Nina remains steadfast and advances to the first audition, pushing through a shooting pain to continue to the second round. Gabriel invites her to a celebratory dinner, celebrating more than the audition’s progress. Meanwhile, Yuri, Gabriel’s roommate, hosts a dinner where his love interest Túlio arrives, stirring a touch of tension that Gabriel defuses so he can be with Nina. In the morning, Túlio’s arrival prompts a revelation about Gabriel’s motivations, including a yearly hike Gabriel takes to honor his late mother, who inspired him since he was a child.

Alberto confronts Gabriel about secretly being tested to donate a kidney to Nina, and Gabriel shares the negative result with her. Although he hoped to attend Nina’s second audition, clinic hours pull him away, and he hurries to reach her—just as she collapses at the piano. Nina wakes days later with a mix of dejection and resolve, worried that their relationship could threaten Gabriel’s residency. She withdraws, not wanting to trigger an appeal, and contemplates telling him to apologize to the hearing committee.

Amanda pushes Nina to fight for their relationship, calling her an idiot for walking away. Nina takes that message to heart and goes to the disciplinary hearing, accepting responsibility for her part in their connection and urging them to keep Gabriel on. The plan moves forward: Gabriel guides Nina to the hospital for Amanda’s birthday, where a chapel is arranged with a piano so she performs for a juror, who then offers another audition. Gabriel then departs for his annual hiking trip, but before leaving, he gives Nina his mother’s lucky necklace for protection. On the mountain, he suffers a severe fall and, despite urgent care, dies in surgery. Nina and Alberto share a quiet moment of grief, and the director reveals that Gabriel is a compatible kidney donor for Nina.

A year later, on stage with the São Paulo orchestra, Nina Soares dedicates a moving song she wrote in memory of Gabriel, concluding her journey with a hopeful, musical tribute that honors the man who helped her keep fighting.