The Second Mother 2015

Drama

Box Office

$3M

Runtime

112 min

Language

Portuguese

Directed by

Anna Muylaert

Made by

Oscilloscope Pictures

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The Second Mother Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for The Second Mother (2015). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

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.

The Second Mother Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of The Second Mother (2015) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

Val's Role as Caregiver

Val is introduced as a dedicated woman who closely monitors young Fabinho while he swims. This moment establishes her nurturing nature and sets the tone for her character's relationship with children, especially Fabinho.

Swimming Pool

Strained Relationship with Daughter

During a phone call, Val attempts to reach her daughter, Jessica, but is met with hesitance reflecting their strained relationship. This interaction foreshadows the challenges that will arise during their eventual reunion.

Transition to Present Day

The story transitions to the present, where middle-aged Val is portrayed alongside her now-teenage son Fabinho. The evolution of their relationship over the years highlights Val's dedication as a mother and caregiver.

Jessica's Wish to Visit

Val receives a call from her daughter Jessica, who expresses her desire to visit São Paulo from her rural home. This unexpected news brings a mix of nervousness and excitement for Val as she prepares for their reunion.

Val Presents a Gift

Val gifts Dona Barbara a birthday present, a gesture that highlights her desire to maintain a harmonious relationship with her employer. This initiates a conversation about Jessica's stay, albeit under reluctant terms.

Bittersweet Reunion

At the airport, Val awaits Jessica with anticipation, but their reunion is bittersweet. Jessica’s cold address of 'Val' instead of 'Mother' showcases the emotional distance between them.

São Paulo Airport

Discomfort on the Bus

As they ride home on a bus, Jessica feels uncomfortable learning that they will be staying in Barbara's house. The tension mounts as she struggles to adapt to her new environment, which is unfamiliar to her.

Bus

Conflict with Dona Barbara

Tensions escalate in Val's cramped room when Jessica voices her discomfort about her study surroundings. Dona Barbara's initial warmth quickly shifts to disapproval as Jessica's assertiveness clashes with Val's submission.

Val's Room

Pool Incident

During a casual outing, Fabinho and his friend toss Jessica into the pool, provoking Barbara's furious response. She threatens to drain the pool based on unfounded claims of a rat sighting, exacerbating the family tensions.

Pool

Jessica's Apartment Search

Jessica discovers a promising apartment to rent, leading to hopes of independence. Her aspirations are crushed when she learns it has already been rented, deepening her sense of frustration and entrapment.

Carlos' Proposal

In a surprising turn of events, Carlos makes a marriage proposal to Jessica, which she dismisses as a joke. The incident adds to Jessica's sense of unease within the household, illustrating the increasing strain between them.

Battle Over Ice Cream

Barbara forbids Jessica from having ice cream, a seemingly trivial act that highlights the growing emotional divide in the household. This ban reveals Barbara's controlling nature and intensifies tensions within the family.

Heated Argument

A heated argument erupts one night, revealing buried resentments that have plagued Val and Jessica’s relationship. This confrontation exposes the emotional scars from Val's absence during Jessica's formative years.

College Entrance Exams

As the story progresses, both Fabinho and Jessica take their college entrance exams, marking a pivotal moment in their academic journeys. Jessica achieves success while Fabinho narrowly misses out, adding to the family dynamics.

New Beginnings for Val and Jessica

After learning about Fabinho's opportunity in Australia, Val decides to resign and move in with Jessica. This marks a significant shift in their relationship, and Jessica's question about caring for her baby signals hope for reconciliation.

The Second Mother Characters

Explore all characters from The Second Mother (2015). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Val

Val is a devoted mother working as a housekeeper, navigating the complexities of her job and her relationship with her daughter. Despite her sacrifices, she struggles with feelings of guilt and longing for a connection with Jessica. As the story progresses, Val seeks to reconcile her past with her present responsibilities, showcasing resilience and love.

👩‍👦 Motherhood 💪 Resilience 🏡 Caregiver

Jessica

Jessica, Val's daughter, arrives from a rural background with aspirations for a better future. Her assertiveness often clashes with the expectations placed on Val, leading to tensions in their relationship. As she navigates her new environment, Jessica grapples with her identity and role, ultimately seeking autonomy and understanding.

🌱 Growth 🔄 Change 🎓 Education

Dona Barbara

Dona Barbara is the demanding wife of Dr. Carlos, embodying the expectations of high society. Her strict demeanor and traditional views create conflict with Jessica, highlighting the generational and social divides. Over time, her treatment of Val and Jessica reflects her insecurities and the societal pressures she faces.

👩‍⚖️ Authority 🏛️ Tradition ⚖️ Conflict

The Second Mother Settings

Learn where and when The Second Mother (2015) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Time period

The story unfolds in contemporary times, where the characters grapple with modern familial relationships and societal expectations. The dynamics of household employment and the challenges faced by women in balancing career and family are significant themes that resonate with current issues.

Location

São Paulo

São Paulo is Brazil's vibrant financial hub, renowned for its rich cultural scene and diverse neighborhoods. It's a sprawling metropolitan area known for its restaurants, museums, and nightlife, making it a center of activity and opportunity. The city juxtaposes modern skyscrapers with historical architecture, reflecting its dynamic growth and evolution.

🏙️ City 🌆 Urban

The Second Mother Themes

Discover the main themes in The Second Mother (2015). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

👩‍👧‍👦

Motherhood

The theme of motherhood is central to the narrative, showcasing Val's struggle to connect with her daughter, Jessica. Their relationship highlights the complexities of maternal bonds affected by absence and expectations. The story ultimately portrays a journey towards reconciliation and understanding in the mother-daughter relationship.

🏠

Class Divide

The movie explores the class divide and its implications within the household dynamic. Val's position as a live-in housekeeper presents challenges when her daughter enters a world of privilege, leading to tensions that expose underlying socio-economic issues. This theme reflects the broader societal struggles between classes in urban Brazil.

🎓

Education

Education serves as a pivotal element, influencing the aspirations and futures of the characters, particularly Jessica and Fabinho. Their academic pursuits highlight the pressures facing young individuals in a competitive society, illustrating how education can bridge or widen the gap between social classes.

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The Second Mother Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of The Second Mother (2015). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.

In contemporary São Paulo, the city’s bustling rhythm and sharp social divisions form a vivid backdrop for a story that moves between polished apartments and cramped, lived‑in spaces. The atmosphere is both intimate and restless, a modern portrait of a metropolis where the personal and the economic constantly intersect. Within this world, a modest household becomes a micro‑cosm of larger class tensions, hinting at the unspoken hierarchies that shape everyday interactions.

Val is the heart of the household she serves, a diligent live‑in housekeeper whose quiet competence has turned her into a surrogate mother for the family’s teenage son. Her routines are precise, her devotion understated, yet there is an undercurrent of longing that surfaces whenever she reflects on the child she left behind. The family she works for—headed by the reserved Dr. Carlos and his demanding wife, Dona Barbara—exudes an air of cultivated restraint, creating a delicate dance between respect and subservience that defines the daily rhythm of the home.

The unexpected arrival of Jessica, Val’s estranged daughter, shatters the carefully maintained equilibrium. Raised far from the city’s glitter, Jessica steps into a world of polished expectations that clash with her rough edges and fierce independence. Her presence forces every character to confront unspoken assumptions: the housekeeper’s dual identity, the family’s concealed fragility, and the lingering question of what truly binds people together. The tension is palpable yet subtle, expressed through glances, quiet conversations, and the uneasy negotiation of space within the same walls.

The film’s tone balances gentle humor with a poignant sense of yearning, inviting viewers to explore how love and duty can coexist amid stark socioeconomic divides. By focusing on the ordinary moments—shared meals, whispered histories, and tentative reconciliations—the story hints at deeper revelations about belonging, sacrifice, and the many ways families are both chosen and inherited.

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