The Best Mother in the World

The Best Mother in the World (A Melhor Mãe do Mundo) is a film by Anna Muylaert (The Second Mother) that joins the pantheon of mothers created by the São Paulo filmmaker. Here, motherhood is the center of the story: Gal (Shirley Cruz) is a woman who decides to leave her husband's (Seu Jorge) abuse behind and seek new opportunities with her two children. However, on this literal and metaphorical path, the protagonist will have to face the streets, betrayals, and abuse. With an air of the American cinema of Lee Daniels (Precious), the feature film shows this woman trying to cope with her pain while also needing to give her two children some perspective. Well-acted, with Cruz a standout, the feature film successfully evokes emotions in the audience by bringing truth to the story, the characters, and their struggles, in a production that truly embodies Brazil. Even with some exaggerations here and there, it is Muylaert's best work since The Second Mother.