The Second Mother (2015)
Kernel Score: 89% · 770 ratings
Genres: Drama
Released: 2015-06-04
Runtime: 112 minutes
Where to watch The Second Mother
- Stream: OVID
- Free with ads: Kanopy, Hoopla, Fawesome, Plex
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-22.
Overview
After leaving her daughter Jessica in a small town in Pernambuco to be raised by relatives, Val spends the next 13 years working as a nanny to Fabinho in São Paulo. She has financial stability but has to live with the guilt of having not raised Jessica herself. As Fabinho’s university entrance exams approach, Jessica reappears in her life and seems to want to give her mother a second chance. However, Jessica has not been raised to be a servant and her very existence will turn Val’s routine on its head. With precision and humour, the subtle and powerful forces that keep rigid class structures in place and how the youth may just be the ones to shake it all up.
The Second Mother parents' guide: ages 8+
Parents need to know that The Second Mother is a Brazilian drama exploring class differences between a live-in housekeeper and the family she serves.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Second Mother
If you liked The Second Mother, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- What Maisie Knew (2013) — 79%
- A Little Princess (1995) — 87%
- Boyhood (2014) — 84%
- Like Father, Like Son (2013) — 85%
- C'mon C'mon (2021) — 82%
- Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001) — 86%
- The White Tiger (2021) — 79%
- Five Easy Pieces (1970) — 80%
Director
Anna Muylaert
Cast
- Regina Casé as Val
- Camila Márdila as Jéssica
- Karine Teles as Bárbara
- Lourenço Mutarelli as Carlos
- Michel Joelsas as Fabinho
- Helena Albergaria as Edna
- Bete Dorgam as Janaína
- Luis Miranda as Antônio Jardineiro
- Theo Werneck as Vandré
- Luci Pereira as Raimunda
The Second Mother FAQ
Is The Second Mother good?
The Second Mother has an 89% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels from 770 audience ratings.
Where can I watch The Second Mother?
In the US you can stream The Second Mother on OVID, watch it free with ads on Kanopy, Hoopla, Fawesome and Plex and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is The Second Mother OK for kids?
Fresh Kernels suggests ages 8+. Parents need to know that The Second Mother is a Brazilian drama exploring class differences between a live-in housekeeper and the family she serves.
What movies are like The Second Mother?
If you liked The Second Mother, try What Maisie Knew, A Little Princess, Boyhood and Like Father, Like Son.