Beyond the Universe

Nina Soares shows prodigious talent on piano from age eight and dreams of a symphony career by fourteen. She collapses during a crucial recital at fourteen, and doctors diagnose lupus. The disease becomes a turning point that alters her early ambitions and sets the stage for years of medical battles.

As lupus damages her kidneys to under 10% function, Nina is placed on the kidney donor list. She starts four hours of dialysis three times a week, a grueling routine that dominates her life. The list shows more than 14,000 people ahead of her in line.

With dialysis scheduled to begin, Nina learns the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra is seeking a piano soloist. She must balance rehearsals with her medical treatments, and her conservatory worries about the impact on her studies. This turning point offers a glimmer of hope beyond the hospital walls.

Nina performs a brief piece at the hospital's train station. Gabriel, a resident doctor, rides by on his bike and accidentally crashes into her piano. The collision interrupts her moment, and she heads back to the hospital, curious about the stranger who disrupted her music.

Gabriel brightens patients' days and becomes a presence in Nina's world. The two start noticing a connection, sharing playful clues about a crush via direct interaction and a dating app. Their relationship begins within the hospital environment.

Gabriel joins Nina's medical team, and she is impressed by his persistence. He helps her secure a practice piano after conservatory fires her, and they rush across town to apply for the audition. Their collaboration deepens a mutual bond through shared goals.

Hospital director and Gabriel's father, Doctor Alberto, reminds him of his Hippocratic oath. In a parallel exchange, Nina teaches Gabriel to ride a bike while he teaches her piano; they later go dancing and share a kiss. The moment cements their complicated, yet hopeful relationship.

During long dialysis sessions, Nina befriends Amanda, who carries a hopeful spirit from her own daughter's memory. Amanda predicts that Nina's outlook will improve as her companionship with Gabriel grows. Her optimistic attitude becomes a counterpoint to Nina's pain.

Nina endures shooting pains but powers through practice and reaches the first audition round. She progresses to the second round, driven by the possibility of a future with the orchestra. The moment marks a breakthrough after months of struggle.

Yuri preps dinner while Tulio arrives, creating a light tension in the group. Gabriel and Nina spend the night together, and in the morning he reveals a personal ritual: he hikes annually to honor his late mother. This confession deepens their bond.

Alberto confronts Gabriel about secretly being tested to donate his kidney. Gabriel reveals a negative test result to Nina. He had planned to attend Nina's second audition but is delayed by clinic hours, and Nina collapses at the piano as he hurries to reach her.

Nina wakes in the hospital three days later, dejected and wary of how a forbidden doctor-patient relationship could affect her career. She chooses to discharge without appeal and avoids telling Gabriel, brooding over the next steps. The distance strains both of them.

Amanda chastises Nina for not fighting for Gabriel, pushing her to take action. Nina goes to the disciplinary hearing and convinces the committee to keep Gabriel on the medical team, taking responsibility for their relationship. The decision keeps their personal and professional lives intact for now.

Gabriel gives Nina his mother's lucky necklace for protection. They stage a candle-lit piano performance in a hospital chapel to tempt the jurors, who then offer her another audition. The moment blends personal symbolism with professional opportunity.

Gabriel dies on his mountain hiking trip after a fatal fall and surgery for a subdural hematoma. In the aftermath, the director reveals that Gabriel’s kidneys would have been a compatible match for Nina, a revelation that casts a bittersweet light on what might have been. One year later, Nina takes the stage with the São Paulo orchestra to dedicate a song to him.