The Second Mother - Characters & Cast

Her primary motivation for decades has been to provide a better life for her daughter, even at the cost of their relationship. She is also motivated by a deep-seated affection for Fabinho and a sense of loyalty and duty to her employers.

Val begins the film completely subservient to the family she serves, having accepted her role as a "second-class citizen." The arrival of her daughter forces her to confront the sacrifices she has made and the quiet indignities she suffers. Through Jéssica's provocations, Val undergoes a gradual awakening, culminating in her decision to quit her job and prioritize her own family, reclaiming her self-respect.

Jéssica is motivated by ambition and a strong sense of equality. She wants to succeed in her university entrance exams to become an architect and refuses to be defined or limited by her mother's social position. She also desires a real relationship with her mother, but not one based on the existing master-servant dynamic.

Jéssica arrives as a confident, intelligent, and somewhat resentful young woman, determined to pursue her education. She doesn't change fundamentally, but her presence acts as a catalyst for change in everyone around her. She forces the family to confront their own prejudices and awakens her mother's dormant sense of self-worth. Her arc is one of asserting her identity and, by the end, beginning to mend her relationship with her mother on new, more equal terms.

Bárbara is motivated by a need to maintain control over her household and her social status. She is protective of the privileges her family enjoys and feels threatened by Jéssica's intelligence and refusal to be subservient. She also feels a sense of maternal inadequacy and jealousy.

Bárbara is the matriarch and a successful professional who maintains the household's strict social order. Initially, she presents a veneer of liberal kindness. However, Jéssica's presence exposes her deep-seated class prejudice and jealousy over Val's bond with her son. She becomes increasingly hostile as her authority is challenged, revealing the fragility of her progressive self-image. Her arc is one of regression, as she clings tighter to the social hierarchies when they are threatened.

Fabinho is primarily motivated by a need for comfort and affection, which he receives from Val rather than his own parents. He seeks an easy, comfortable life and is not particularly driven academically.

Fabinho starts as a somewhat spoiled but sweet-natured teenager who is emotionally dependent on Val. He exists in a bubble of privilege, largely oblivious to the class dynamics his mother enforces. Jéssica's arrival introduces a new dynamic, and his failure in the university exam, contrasted with her success, serves as a wake-up call, forcing him to confront a reality where effort matters more than status. He decides to travel, suggesting a step towards independence and maturity.