Anna Muylaert: Last News

Guy Lodge Film Critic The title isn’t intended ironically in “The Best Mother in the World” — at least not to the extent it is in, say, “The Worst Person in the World.” But there’s a truism embedded in its hyperbole: Most people on good terms with their mother would describe her as the world’s greatest, regardless of any flaws and errors along the way. The two young children of Gal (Shirley Cruz), the endlessly put-upon protagonist of Brazilian writer-director Anna Muylaert‘s new film, believe as much, their devotion only strengthened as the script puts them collectively through the wringer.

Rafa Sales Ross Guest Contributor The first time Anna Muylaert had a film play at the Berlin Film Festival, it changed her life, and not entirely for the best. “The Second Mother,” which won the Panorama Audience Award and went on to become Brazil’s representative at the Academy Awards as well as the most popular film in the country that year, changed Muylaert’s career and catapulted her to international attention. “The Best Mother in the World” was inspired by what came next: an unexpected wave of abuse that saw the director look at the ways women navigate the world.

Ellise Shafer The Berlin Film Festival is unveiling the full lineup for its 75th edition, which is set to take place from Feb. 13 to 23.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent The Berlin Film Festival has confirmed that Bong Joon Ho’s Robert Pattinson movie “Mickey 17” will play at the festival, in the Berlinale Special section, alongside a new – and equally glitzy — addition, Justin Kurzel‘s series “The Narrow Road to the Deep North” starring Jacob Elordi. Variety first reported last week that “Mickey 17” would have its international premiere at Berlinale.

John Hopewell Chief International CorrespondentSetting the agenda for much top Brazilian cinema bowing over 2022-25, Globo Filmes has boarded 20 new Brazilian movies, powering up by far the biggest production slate of any company in Brazil.New titles from many of Brazil’s good and great range from Cinema Novo veteran Zelito Viana to Oscar-shortlisted Cao Hambuger. The production slate features obvious big commercial plays for domestic audiences such as “Tô de Graça, o Filme,” a movie spin-off from the hugely popular sitcom franchise.The lineup, however, displays a far larger auteurist edge than in the past, with awaited new movies from young female auteurs such as Juliana Rojas and Beatriz Seigner and battling Black filmmakers Jeferson De, Grace Passo and Sabrina Fidalgo.

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent“Island City,” the latest film from “Lower City” director Sérgio Machado, has been acquired for international sales by Edward Noeltner’s Beverly Hills-based Cinema Management Group. Given a current absence of Brazilian movies selected for the Cannes Festival, the acquisition gives CMG one of the most awaited of titles coming out of Brazil this year.It also marks latest title from Brazilian production powerhouse Gullane, whose credits include Cannes Competition players – Hector Babenco’s “Carandiru,” Marco Bellocchio’s “The Traitor”  – as well as Sundance winners, such as Anna Muylaert’s “The Second Mother,” and Berlin Panorama laureates, such as Luis Bolognesi’s “The Last Forest.” Exploring the foibles and failure of manhood, also the focus of “Lower City,” “Inner City” tells what CMG describes as the “captivating” tale of three brothers who end up living under the same roof as middle brother Dalberto’s sensual new wife, Anaira (Sophie Charlotte).When Dalberto (Daniel de Oliveira) has to leave, transporting a mysterious passenger up the Amazon to Peru, a despondent Anaira seeks comfort in the company of other brothers Armando (Gabriel Leone) and Dalmo (Romulo Braga).