The Second Mother - Ending Explained

The film's climax is set in motion by the results of the university entrance exams. Fabinho, despite all his privilege and private education, fails. Jéssica, a product of the public school system from a poorer region, passes and is accepted into the prestigious architecture program at the University of São Paulo. This reversal of fortunes is the ultimate disruption of the class hierarchy the film has depicted. It demonstrates that the new Brazil, based on merit, is supplanting the old Brazil, based on birthright.

This news shatters Bárbara's sense of superiority. In a moment of jealousy and frustration, she lashes out, solidifying the emotional chasm between her and her son. Witnessing this, and deeply proud of her daughter, Val has her final awakening. When Fabinho decides to go to Australia, Val realizes her role as his "second mother" is over. She quits her job, telling Bárbara that she now needs to take care of her own child. She leaves the house, taking the unused coffee set with her, a final act of reclaiming her dignity.

The final twist comes when Val moves in with Jéssica and discovers she has a grandson, Jorge. Val is initially shocked that Jéssica was repeating her own mistake of leaving a child behind to pursue her ambitions. However, the film ends on a hopeful note. Val, now liberated, encourages Jéssica to bring the boy to live with them. The film closes with the three generations together, Val having finally broken the cycle of sacrificing her own family for others and is now poised to be a grandmother in a new, healthier family structure she helped create.

While the film is largely seen as a triumphant story of empowerment, some critics have offered alternative readings of the ending. The final scene reveals that Jéssica now has a young son of her own, and Val steps in to care for him while Jéssica works. Some interpretations view this as a somewhat pessimistic cycle, suggesting that despite her education, Jéssica may be repeating her mother's pattern of relying on a "second mother" to raise her child.

Another perspective focuses on the character of Carlos, the patriarch. While he appears more sympathetic to Jéssica than his wife, his interest can also be interpreted as predatory and a subtle exercise of patriarchal power. His offer of help and his eventual marriage proposal are seen by some not as kindness, but as an attempt to possess and control the intelligent young woman who has entered his domain.