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The Second Mother 2015

In contemporary Sao Paulo, Val works as a dedicated housekeeper for a wealthy family, effectively raising their teenage son. Her carefully constructed routine is upended when her estranged daughter, Jessica, unexpectedly arrives. This event exposes underlying class conflicts and forces the family to confront their relationships and the true meaning of family bonds. The arrival creates a disruption that reveals hidden tensions and challenges the established order within the household.

In contemporary Sao Paulo, Val works as a dedicated housekeeper for a wealthy family, effectively raising their teenage son. Her carefully constructed routine is upended when her estranged daughter, Jessica, unexpectedly arrives. This event exposes underlying class conflicts and forces the family to confront their relationships and the true meaning of family bonds. The arrival creates a disruption that reveals hidden tensions and challenges the established order within the household.

Does The Second Mother have end credit scenes?

No!

The Second Mother does not have end credit scenes. You can leave when the credits roll.

Meet the Full Cast and Actors of The Second Mother

Explore the complete cast of The Second Mother, including both lead and supporting actors. Learn who plays each character, discover their past roles and achievements, and find out what makes this ensemble cast stand out in the world of film and television.


Ratings and Reviews for The Second Mother

See how The Second Mother is rated across major platforms like IMDb, Metacritic, and TMDb. Compare audience scores and critic reviews to understand where The Second Mother stands among top-rated movies in its genre.


Metacritic

82

Metascore

8.9

User Score

Rotten Tomatoes
review

97%

TOMATOMETER

review

90%

User Score

IMDb

7.8 /10

IMDb Rating

TMDB

80

%

User Score

Letterboxd

4.2

From 3K fan ratings

Movie Insider

3.00/5

From 1 fan rating

Take the Ultimate The Second Mother Movie Quiz

Challenge your knowledge of The Second Mother with this fun and interactive movie quiz. Test yourself on key plot points, iconic characters, hidden details, and memorable moments to see how well you really know the film.


The Second Mother Quiz: Test your knowledge on the themes and characters of The Second Mother.

Who is Val's employer in the movie?

Full Plot Summary and Ending Explained for The Second Mother

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Read the complete plot summary of The Second Mother, including all major events, twists, and the full ending explained in detail. Explore key characters, themes, hidden meanings, and everything you need to understand the story from beginning to end.


Val is introduced as a dedicated young woman monitoring a small boy, Fabinho, as he swims in a pool. During a phone call, she reaches out to her hesitant daughter, only to be reminded of their strained relationship. After Fabinho’s swim, Val lovingly wraps him in a towel, providing comfort and warmth on her lap. Transitioning to the present, we see a middle-aged Val, portrayed by Regina Casé, who still cares for her now-teenage son Fabinho, played by Michel Joelsas, while working as the live-in housekeeper for the reserved Dr. Carlos and his demanding wife, Dona Barbara.

Amidst a flurry of emotions, Val is caught off guard by a call from her daughter, Jessica, expressing her desire to visit São Paulo from her rural upbringing. Nervous yet hopeful, Val presents Dona Barbara with a birthday gift, prompting a reluctant agreement for Jessica to stay with them until arrangements can be made for her own living space. In a buzz of excitement at the airport, Val eagerly anticipates Jessica’s arrival, but is met with the cold address of “Val” instead of “Mother.” Their reunion is bittersweet; while Val showers Jessica with affection, it is largely unreciprocated.

As they travel home on a bus, Jessica’s discomfort grows upon discovering they will be staying in Barbara’s home. Once in Val’s cramped room, tensions mount as Jessica expresses concern over her study environment. The situation escalates further when Barbara, initially pleased to meet Jessica, quickly shows her disapproval as Jessica’s assertiveness contrasts sharply with Val’s expected subservience. This strain manifests during a casual outing where Fabinho and his friend playfully toss Jessica into the pool—a confrontation that leads to Barbara’s extreme reaction of threatening to drain it over claims of a rat sighting.

As more conflicts arise, Jessica learns of a promising apartment, but their hopes dwindle when they discover it has already been rented. Further complications ensue when Carlos makes an unexpected marriage proposal to Jessica, which she brushes off as a joke. Simultaneously, Barbara forbids Jessica from enjoying ice cream, leading to an uncomfortable household dynamic. A heated argument breaks out one night, igniting years of buried resentment and exposing the emotional scars from Val’s absence during Jessica’s upbringing.

In the aftermath, both Fabinho and Jessica take their college entrance exams, with Jessica achieving success while Fabinho narrowly misses out. Soon, Fabinho announces an exciting opportunity to spend six months in Australia. Following this revelation, Val, choosing a new path, resigns her position and moves in with Jessica, suggesting that Jessica’s baby boy, Jorge, join them. Beaming with happiness, Jessica asks, “Are you going to take care of him, mother?” To which Val responds with a broad smile, signaling a hopeful reconciliation.

Uncover the Details: Timeline, Characters, Themes, and Beyond!

Watch Trailers, Clips & Behind-the-Scenes for The Second Mother

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Watch official trailers, exclusive clips, cast interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage from The Second Mother. Dive deeper into the making of the film, its standout moments, and key production insights.


Que Horas Ela Volta? (The Second Mother) - Trailer Sundance 2015

Cars Featured in The Second Mother

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Explore all cars featured in The Second Mother, including their makes, models, scenes they appear in, and their significance to the plot. A must-read for car enthusiasts and movie buffs alike.


Bajaj

Chetak

Bajaj

RE

Bajaj

RE

Bajaj

RE Compact

Force

2008

Traveller

Force

Trax Cruiser

Ford

2006

Fiesta

Ford

2005

Mustang

Hindustan

1971

Ambassador MkII

Honda

2002

Wave 100

Movie Themes and Keywords

Discover the central themes, ideas, and keywords that define the movie’s story, tone, and message. Analyze the film’s deeper meanings, genre influences, and recurring concepts.


female protagonisthousemaidmother daughter reunionmother daughter estrangementsocial classhousekeepersao paulo brazilupper classclass differencesportuguese languageemployer employee relationshipmother daughter relationshiptitle directed by femalemother son relationshipfamily hometelephone callmaidsurrogate motherinterviewfilm crewbirthday presentlittle boyteenage boytortoisehouse partymarijuanasouth americamarriage proposalhusband wife relationshipuniversity studentwinkingfather son relationshipsocial dramaswimming with clothes onjumping into a pool with clothes onsnobberyyounger version of characterflash forwardpainterpaintingguest roomhouseguestgolden retrievermattressplaying with hairsocial commentaryargumentapartmentsecret childairport

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