THE SECOND MOTHER
  All Critics (93) | Top Critics (34) | Fresh (90) | Rotten (3)
  Writer/director Anna Muylaert’s beautifully shot, frequently comical take on the ‘second mother’ phenomenon sets the film apart from other explorations of similar material.
 
  March 2, 2016 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Tara Brady
  Irish Times
  TOP CRITIC
  All the elements of the story fit impeccably together for a humorous and occasionally wrenching examination of relationships.
 
  September 24, 2015 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
  Stephanie Merry
  Washington Post
  TOP CRITIC
  The characters are so accustomed to keeping up appearances that they can’t bring themselves to say what’s bugging them. Their interactions may be mild, but the claustrophobic imagery creates the sense of being trapped in a powder keg.
 
  September 17, 2015 | Rating: 3/4
 
  Ben Sachs
  Chicago Reader
  TOP CRITIC
  Though hardly revolutionary, “Mother” subverts conventions – both cinematic and social.
 
  September 17, 2015 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
  Peter Keough
  Boston Globe
  TOP CRITIC
  The Second Mother is an interesting look at generational and class divides in Brazil, without the feel of a lecture or lesson.
 
  September 10, 2015 | Rating: 3/4
 
  Molly Eichel
  Philadelphia Inquirer
  TOP CRITIC
  We’ve seen plenty of stories about the arrival of a mysterious stranger upsetting the order of things. But “The Second Mother,” Brazilian writer and director Anna Muylaert’s outstanding film, is different.
 
  September 10, 2015 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Bill Goodykoontz
  Arizona Republic
  TOP CRITIC
  Brazilian filmmaker Anna Muylaert’s The Second Mother is a beautifully crafted drama about the interaction between wealthy urban Latin American families and their maids, most of whom come from impoverished rural environments.
 
  October 12, 2021
 
  Jennifer Merin
  AWFJ Women on Film
  Muylaert’s expert, nuanced exploration of inter-familial relationships, particularly those between women, is a joy to behold, played beautifully by the exceptional cast.
 
  September 29, 2021
 
  Nikki Baughan
  AWFJ Women on Film
  Muylaert makes it very moving with his observation on mother-to-child relationships. [Full review in Spanish]
 
  July 21, 2020 | Rating: 7/10
 
  Yasser Medina
  Cinemaficionados
  Director Anna Muylaert, who has worked as a film critic and reporter, drafted a thoughtful script and put care into directing the actors, with a big payoff.
 
  March 9, 2020
 
  Iñaki Fernández de Retana
  Remezcla
  A truthful depiction of what it means to be both parent and employee, The Second Mother leaves you pondering its characters long after you’ve flown the nest.
 
  May 4, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Sian Brett
  One Room With A View
  The Second Mother doesn’t look to solve the socioeconomic gap, but rather paints a very vivid picture of the senselessness behind it all. It’s an intriguing and well-executed story from the perspective of the underprivileged characters.
 
  April 11, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/5
 
  Mae Abdulbaki
  Movies with Mae…