Review: The Second Mother

Never has the presentation of class differences been so naturally laid out: writer/director Anna Muylaert presents THE SECOND MOTHER, a charming film that slowly unravels class structure.

The slow-paced Brazilian film opens with a static flashback shot of a large pool; Val (Regina Casé), a cheery, open woman full of love, convinces a young boy, Fabinho, to play in the pool, while refraining from the water herself. Instead, she talks on the phone with her daughter -- and at the end of the scene, we find that Fabinho is not her son, but the son of her employer.

It is revealed promptly after that Val is a live-in maid for a rich family who finds it too hard for themselves to even go to the fridge to get their own ice cream. Bárbara (Karine Teles) is the working mother, jealous of Val's relationship with her son, but Carlos (Lourenço Mutarelli) is the secret money bank, having inherited the family's money. Fabinho (Michel Joelsas) prepares for his university exams by lounging around the house with his friends. In terms of affording respect, Val doesn't seem to mind the way the family treats her, lavishing her attention on them, and especially towards Fabinho, like a second mother.

Meanwhile, Val's own daughter, Jessica (Camila Márdila), wants nothing to do with her... until one day, when she calls to tell her that she wants to move in with her in order to study at university. Val excitedly gets permission to invite Jessica into her home -- or her employer's home, that is. But Jessica has a sense of entitlement that Val would never dream of having, and the family issues a passive aggressive politeness that triggers a precariously balanced game of power distribution and tripped class boundary, with Val playing the role of the Servant and her daughter playing the role of the Guest.

The concept is fascinating, and tenderly executed, with characters that pop off the screen and an intricate conflict that is far too relatable. Casé is instantly lovable, speaking her actions in an endearing way and wearing her emotions on her sleeves; and Márdila commands attention in an unaware, youthful way.

THE SECOND MOTHER is now playing at the Midtown Cinema! This is definitely one you should check out.