Brazil has selected The Second Mother for submission into the Oscar race for Best Foreign Language doc. It would become the first film directed by a woman selected by the country in 30 years.The Wall Street Journal’s Joe Morgenstern says about the film, “Anna Muylaert’s “The Second Mother,” from Brazil in subtitled Portuguese, puts an enormous, one-of-a-kind performance at the center of an uncommonly complex dramatic comedy about family, love and class. A more cautious filmmaker might have dialed back the star’s volcanic style for fear of obscuring the story’s subtleties. Ms. Muylaert’s guiding principle seems to have been fearlessness, and her film, which was shot by Barbara Alvarez, is superb on all counts.”
The foreign language branch of the Academy might occasionally frustrate Oscar watchers, but the truth about them is that they are careful about their selections. I spoke to one last year who said he watched all submissions. He didn’t just watch the popular ones. To be in that branch one would have to have a lot of time on one’s hands. This, though, is why The Second Mother might do well. The critics will disregard it probably for their year end awards but hopefully enough voting members will watch it to get the film in.
