Une seconde mère

"The Second Mother" (2015 release from Brazil; 112 min.; original title "Que Horas Ela Volta?" or "What Time Will She Be Back?") brings the story of Val, who has been working as a live-in maid for many years (later we learn it's about 15 years) at a well-off family in Sao Paolo. She's part of the family, yet of course knows the rules of the do's and don't's that come with being the maid. Then out of the blue appears Val's daughter Jessica, whom she hasn't seen in years. Jessica wants to study to take the entrance test at the FAU (Architecture and Urbanization School). As it happens, Fabinho, the son of the family, is as well. On top of that, Jessica has different ideas as to what rules she should or shouldn't abide by, being the daughter of the live-in maid. To tell you more would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.

Couple of comments; this is the latest movie from noted Brazilian writer-director Anna Muylaert (a very Belgian name indeed). She has previously brought us "The Year My Parents Went On Vacation", among others. Here she looks at the class differences in Brazilian society, something that Brazilian cinema has a long history and track record in. There are a number of telling scenes in the movie, none more so (for me anyway) when Jessica tells the well-off family that she plans to take the notoriously difficult and selective FAU entrance exam. "This country is really changing" mutters the mother, in what could be a positive way, but really is a condescending tone. While the movie is billed as a drama, there are plenty of lighter moments in it as well, usually courtesy of Regina Case in the role of Val. The whole movie is on her shoulder, and she does is with a wink and a smile. As to the movie's US title, which departs significantly from the original title, you will see in the movie that there are several ways to interpret that. One minor negative is that the movie is a bit long for its own good. With some tighter editing, this could've been about 15 min. shorter without losing much. But in the end it's a minor quibble.

I saw this movie on what turned out to be the last day of its one week run at my local art-house theater here in Cincinnati. Not surprisingly, the early evening screening where I saw this at was not well attended. Maybe this will find a second life when it comes out on DVD. If you are in the mood for a top quality foreign movie that's short on 'action' but long on substance, you cannot go wrong with this, be it at the theater, on VOD or on DVD/Blu-ray. "The Second Mother" is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

In São Paulo, the housekeeper Val (Regina Casé) has been working for Carlos (Lourenço Mutarelli) and Bárbara (Karine Teles) in their elegant house at Morumbi since their teenager son Fabinho (Michel Joelsas) since he was a child. Her estranged teenager daughter Jéssica (Camila Márdila), who lives in Pernambuco, was raised by her father and another woman but financially supported by Val. When Jéssica calls her mother to tell that she will travel to São Paulo to do the entrance exam for one of the best universities in São Paulo, Val asks permission to her employers to bring Jéssica to her room. They agree and the teenager is welcomed by the family. But soon she becomes a problem to Val since she does not follow the usual submission of maids, breaking the class barriers in the house and bringing disturbance to the relationships.

"Que Horas Ela Volta?" is a low-budget Brazilian film with an original story of class conflict and generation gap. Regina Casé has an outstanding performance in the role of a woman incapable to raise her own daughter since she needs to work as nanny of the son of her employers. She seeks redemption in the end expecting to raise her grandson. The cast is magnificent and the feeling of guilty of Val is easy to be understood. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Que Horas Ela Volta?" ("At What Time Does She Come Back?")

I believe this movie is an accurate depiction of a typical upper middle class or upper class Brazilian household. There is a clear and well defined divide between the haves and the have nots. Val the maid lives in a small room and comes from the impoverished North East of Brazil (just as former President Lula did!). I think the film maker wanted to paint a picture of stark contrasts, somewhat like a film version of Casa-Grande & Senzala by Gilberto Freyre (discussed the various classes and races in Brazil 1933). Although the mother was a pretty overbearing one percenter, I don't think she is unique and could be found anywhere! The father was pretty cool, absolutely nothing phoney about him, all up front. The movie presents the Vestibular University entrance exam system. The system does not distinguish applicants based on societal position. Also the best Universities are free, so we can all learn something from Brazil. Parabéns.

Brazilian filmmaking won me over a lot last year with the sensitive, funny and uplifting The Way He Looks, now I'm back in Brazil's court with the endearing The Second Mother. Their filmmakers doing domestic drama the way America should be, taking it in humanistic ways without over-complication. It's a simple setup, one organic and truthful despite how nuanced the drama is. When Val's estranged teenage daughter comes to stay with the affluent family she lives with and serves, the balance is upset by her simply using their pool and eating their ice cream. It highlights the social constructs which are assumed with certain boundaries and duties. The family considers Val part of the family, but far from treats her like one, and Regina Case's performance as Val is effortless and stellar. The film points out those hypocrisies in a well defined, lightly comedic and dramatically satisfying way. Writer/director Anna Muylaert knows how to play all her cards right, including careful mise en scene to distinguish the dichotomies between class and their spaces. The film is a whisper with its quiet drama, but its implications are loud, striking a tender chord.

8/10

It's not everyday that we get a film like this, not willing to really dive into the political, social issues that pervade everyday life, and the cultural barriers and differences that micro- aggressions really make. The acting in this is superb, especially from Regina Case. It's all very natural and in the vein of real life, to an almost unbearably disturbing extent. The screenplay and directing are superb. None of it is at all showy, but it all builds up to quietly powerful, and deeply emotional, moments and scenes. The characterization is rich and it all really sneaks up on you in terms of its effect. definitely recommended, although it's not for those wanting loud or showy extravaganza.