The Best Mother in the World
Description
Filmmaker Anna Muylaert (The Second Mother, Festival 2015) is known for her empathetic portraits of Brazilian women working hard to provide for their families and improve their own personal circumstances. In her latest film, trash collector Gal (Shirley Cruz) flees an abusive relationship and takes to the streets with her two kids and the pushcart that is her livelihood. Pretending they are on a grand adventure in the streets of São Paulo rather than confront her children with the reality of being homeless, Gal attempts to bring a spirit of playfulness to a dire situation. Muylaert brings her characteristic compassion to the fore, heightened by Cruz’s textured performance that blends the levity of the family splashing around in a public fountain with the pathos of a middle-aged woman facing a difficult path ahead. Actor-musician Seu Jorge is similarly memorable as the brutish Leandro.—Rod Armstrong
Brazilian director and screenwriter Anna Muylaert studied filmmaking at the School of Communications and Arts at University of São Paulo. She worked as a film critic and TV editor and reporter before embarking on her filmmaking career. Among her films are The Second Mother (Festival 2015), winner of two awards at the Berlin International Film Festival and a Silver Ariel Award for Best Latin-American Film, and Don’t Call Me Son (2016), winner of Berlin’s Teddy Award.
Film Details
LanguagePortuguese
Original Language TitleA Melhor Mãe do Mundo
Year2025
Runtime106
CountryBrazil, Argentina
DirectorAnna Muylaert
ProducerTomás Darcyl, Ricardo Costianovsky, Clara Ramos, Bianca Villar, Karen Castanho, Gabriel Gurman, Fernando Fraiha, Anna Muylaert
Executive ProducerDeborah Nikaido, Anatalia Lyrio
WriterAnna Muylaert
EditorFernando Stutz
CinematographerLílis Soares
MusicAndré Abujamra
CastShirley Cruz, Seu Jorge, Rihanna Barbosa
Print SourceGaleria Distribuidora Audiovisual
Closed CaptionsClosed Captions are confirmed for this film
Audio DescriptionAudio Descriptions are not currently confirmed for this film
American Sign Language (ASL) InterpretationAmerican Sign Language Interpretation is not currently scheduled for this film
