New Showbiz

You are here:
The Best Mother in the World

The Best Mother in the World

2025

Director

Anna Muylaert

Runtime

105 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

To escape her abusive husband, garbage collector Gal packs her two young children, Rihanna and Benin, onto the top of her cart and heads across São Paulo to her cousin’s house. As she struggles to avoid the dangers of the streets along the way, she convinces the children that they are on a big and exciting adventure. When they arrive at her cousin’s house, they are warmly welcomed and fed. However, what initially seems like a safe haven soon turns out to be a trap. Gal realises that not only her own safety is at risk, but also the future of her children.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

7.9/10

Good


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Fair

The narrative focuses on maternal survival and escaping domestic abuse. There is no explicit depiction of queer romance or non-cisnormative identities in the story.

Gender Representation

Excellent

Gal serves as a high-agency protagonist who disrupts patriarchal structures. The film subverts traditional tropes by framing the male figure as an abusive force to be escaped.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Excellent

The film provides exceptional representation by centering a Black female protagonist and a predominantly Black cast. It offers a nuanced portrayal of Black life and labor in Brazil.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Excellent

The story critiques systemic social failures through the lens of homelessness in São Paulo. It prioritizes the survival of the marginalized over traditional capitalist ideals of stability.

Disability Representation

Minimal

The available information contains no specific mentions of visible or invisible disabilities.

Strengths

  • Exceptional centering of Black female agency and labor within a Brazilian context.
  • Strong subversion of patriarchal structures through a resilient female protagonist.
  • Nuanced critique of systemic social failures and urban instability.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lack of explicit representation for LGBTQ+ identities or non-cisnormative characters.
  • No visible or mentioned representation of characters with disabilities.

AI Analysis

Anna Muylaert’s drama is a sophisticated exploration of intersectional identity, centering on the agency of a Black female waste collector. By focusing on the intersection of race, class, and labor, the film moves beyond tokenism to provide a high-agency portrayal of marginalized lives in Brazil. The film effectively subverts traditional gender roles by positioning maternal autonomy and resilience as the primary drivers of the plot. Rather than relying on stable male leadership, the story highlights the systemic vulnerabilities faced by women navigating urban dangers. While the film excels in racial and gendered representation, it lacks explicit details regarding LGBTQ+ identities or disability. However, its deep engagement with the socio-economic realities of São Paulo creates a powerful critique of institutional structures.

How are these scores produced? →

Similar Movies

Movie poster for Freda

Freda

2021

No user ratings available yet
Diversity score: 7.6 out of 10

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.