The Best Mother in the World

Facing an abusive partner, Gal, who works as a garbage collector, gathers her two children onto the back of her cart and begins a long walk across São Paulo. She frames the perilous trek as a grand voyage, hoping the kids will feel safe and excited rather than terrified. Along the busy streets and crowded avenues, she dodges dangers, finds small moments of respite, and keeps reminding them that they are part of a bigger plan. When they reach a cousin’s house that promises refuge, they are welcomed with warmth and food. Yet the apparent sanctuary quickly reveals itself as a trap that endangers everyone. Gal steadies herself and tries to shield Rihanna and João Victor, teaching them to read danger and to trust their instincts. As they press on, Rihanna and João Victor try to understand why their mother insists on this dangerous plan, learning to read her fear and courage.

Directed by Anna Muylaert with a screenplay by Mariana Jaspe and Grace Passô, the film unfolds as an original drama about a mother fighting for her kids and a city that tests their limits. The storytelling favors close, natural performances and a humane lens, relying on intimate takes and quiet details rather than flashy spectacle.

Early responses frame the film as a taut portrait of survival and maternal love set against urban hardship. It probes resilience and the power dynamics within family, the tricky line between protection and danger, and how childhood innocence collides with real world risk. The performances from Shirley Cruz and Seu Jorge anchor the drama, giving warmth to moments of tenderness even as danger intensifies. The film situates Gal's flight within a broader conversation about domestic violence, housing precarity, and the invisibility of essential workers who keep the city running. Its careful pacing and restrained emotion invite viewers to consider what safety truly means for families on the edge.