The Second Mother (2015 film)

The Second Mother

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Anna Muylaert
Produced by
  • Fabiano Gullane
  • Caio Gullane
  • Debora Ivanov
  • Anna Muylaert
Written by Anna Muylaert
Starring
Cinematography Bárbara Alvarez
Edited by Karen Harley
Production
company
  • Africa Filmes
  • Gullane Filmes
Release dates
  • January 25, 2015 (Sundance)
Running time
 114 minutes
Country Brazil
Language Portuguese
Budget R$4 million[1]

The Second Mother, originally titled Que Horas Ela Volta? (lit. What Time Does She Return?), is a 2015 Brazilian film directed by Anna Muylaert.

Premise

Val, a woman from Pernambuco, goes to São Paulo, leaving behind her daughter, Jéssica, with Jéssica's grandfather. In São Paulo, Val finds a job as housemaid of a high-class house where she takes care of the family's child, Fabinho.

Thirteen years later, Val is economically stable but feeling guilty for having left behind Jéssica. Suddenly, Jéssica calls saying he would like to do an admission exam in São Paulo. With the support of her bosses, Jéssica comes to live with them; however, living together is not easy.[2][1]

Cast

Production

Muylaert originally envisioned it before the release of her first feature film, Durval Discos (2002),[2] but she felt she was not capable of directing it at the time.[1] Originally titled A Porta da Cozinha ("The Kitchen's Door"), it was based on Muylaert's own experience with a nanny, who took care of Muylaert's son after leaving her own daughter.[3] The screenplay was rewritten four times since its original conception,[1] since Muylaert felt it was "immature",[2] by her and Casé.[3] Casé had an important role as she knew closely the reality of several Northeastern women who went to São Paulo to find a job, and Muylaert wanted to not create a "caricature" of a real figure.[3] On the contrary, she wrote the story because in her opinion taking care of other people's children is "sacred work that is very underrated."[2] The film took nine months to make.[4]

The main filming location of The Second Mother, shot in February 2014, was a mansion on Morumbi, a high-class neighborhood of São Paulo.[1][2]

Release

Its worldwide premiere took place at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival,[5] in which Casé and Camila Márdila shared the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Acting.[6] Its European premiere took place in the Panorama section of the 65th Berlin International Film Festival,[7] where it won the Panorama Audience Award.[8] On December 15, 2014 The Match Factory acquired international rights to the film.[9]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Mestieri, Gabriel (February 18, 2014). ""Com cara de povo", Regina Casé vive empregada em longa de Anna Muylaert" (in Portuguese). Universo Online. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Guerra, Roberto (February 17, 2014). "Cineclick acompanha filmagens do longa Que Horas Ela Volta?". Cineclick (in Portuguese). R7. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "'É meu film mais difícil', diz Anna Muylaert sobre 'Que Horas Ela Volta?'". O Estado de S. Paulo. February 21, 2014. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  4. ↑ Levine, Sydney. "Sundance Interview and Review: 'The Second Mother'". Indie Wire. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Sundance Institute Announces Films in US and World Competitions, for 2015 Sundance Film Festival". sundance.org. December 3, 2014. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  6. ↑ "2015 Sundance Film Festival Award Winners". sundance.org. Retrieved February 14, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Panorama 65th Berlinale". berlinale.de. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Berlin: 'The Second Mother' Wins Panorama Audience Award". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 14, 2015.
  9. ↑ Hopewell, John (December 15, 2014). "The Match Factory Picks Up Sundance Title 'The Second Mother'". Retrieved December 9, 2014.

External links