André Novis

André Novis—man, this guy’s filmography has some serious range. In 2019, he made waves with “A Vida Invisível,” a movie that basically rips your heart out and stomps on it, in the best way. The whole thing is soaked in this bittersweet nostalgia, following two sisters in 1950s Brazil who get separated and spend years just barely missing each other. It’s like fate’s playing a cruel joke, and Novis helps bring out all that longing and frustration—he’s not even the main star, but the energy he brings just makes those moments hit harder. Same year, he pops up in “Il traditore,” which is all about the mafia and betrayal and those wild courtroom showdowns. The movie’s got this gritty, restless vibe, and Novis slides in with that low-key intensity of his. He’s not chewing scenery, but you totally buy him as a guy who’d sell out his own brother if the pressure got high enough. Not saying he does, but you know, those eyes say a lot. Then comes “Shine Your Eyes” in 2020, and honestly, this one’s a trip. It’s set in São Paulo, but it’s not some postcard version—think urban maze, loneliness, trying to find your footing in a place that keeps shifting. Novis, once again, is like this chameleon, blending into the chaos but still making you notice him. If you’re into films that simmer instead of explode, his work in these is the kind that sneaks up on you.