The Second Mother

Afer leaving her daughter in a small town in Pernambuco to be raised by relatives, Val spends the next 13 years working as a nanny to Fabinho in São Paulo. She has financial stability but has to live with the guilt of having not raised Jessica herself. As Fabinho's college entrance exams roll around though, her daughter calls and gives her what seems to be a second chance.

Jessica wants to come to São Paulo to take her college entrance exams as well. Filled with joy as well as apprehension, Val gets ready, with the wholehearted support of her employers, for the long-dreamed moment of being near her daughter again. But when Jessica arrives, cohabitation is not easy. She doesn't behave in conformity to what is expected of her and starts to create tension inside the household. "Regina Casé ("Me You Them") delivers a stunning performance… in Anna Muylaert's riveting drama… This densely layered yet almost fast-paced-feeling [film]… passes not only the Bechdel test with flying colors but dissects with both chilling precision and humor such matters as class differences, real mothers vs. caretakers and whether privilege and one's own station are things that can be questioned or changed… Though the film is very much an ensemble piece, and all the actors are terrific, [Casé] is definitely the standout here."—Boyd van Hoeij, Hollywood Reporter

"The Second Mother" is Brazilian candidate for foreign language film Oscar.

Brazil 2015