Netflix Film Review 23rd August 2026

Watching Here the Whole Time, it is difficult not to think of Heartstopper. The teenage characters, the music and the direction all give this Brazilian romantic comedy a similarly warm and dreamy quality.

There is, however, one important difference. Felipe, played by Miguel Lallo, is openly gay from the beginning. This is not primarily a story about coming out or discovering his sexuality. Instead, it explores something we rarely see addressed so directly in romantic comedies, particularly queer ones: body image.

When Felipe’s childhood crush Caio, played by Diego Lira, comes to stay, the possibility of romance brings his insecurities into sharp focus. His relationship with his body becomes almost as central to the drama as the love story itself.

It is a refreshing approach. We are used to romantic leads who appear effortlessly confident and conventionally attractive, but Here the Whole Time allows its central character to wrestle with the impact of body shaming and the difficulty of believing that somebody else might genuinely find him desirable.

The film also makes enjoyable use of fantastical, dreamlike musical sequences, which break up the story and add a playful theatrical quality. They provide some welcome colour and imagination, while helping us understand the world inside Felipe’s head.

I found the whole thing charming, if not particularly challenging. The overall story follows a fairly predictable romantic arc, with its treatment of body image offering the most interesting departure from familiar territory. I would have welcomed a little more edge and perhaps greater development of the supporting characters beyond the two leads.

Nevertheless, I applaud filmmakers willing to take a chance on a queer romantic drama with something slightly different to say. Here the Whole Time might not completely reinvent the genre, but it offers an enjoyable, affectionate reminder that love stories should make room for people who do not always see themselves reflected on screen.

Please note this film is in Portuguese and is subtitled in English.

Film	Here the Whole Time (Quinze Dias)
Release Date	19 August 2026
Platform	Netflix
Director	Daniel Lieff
Running Time	100 minutes
Viewing Link	Netflix
Cast	Miguel Lallo, Diego Lira, Débora Falabella