Variety pans Gabriel Martins' new Netflix drama as repetitive and strained
Variety has reviewed Gabriel Martins' new Netflix drama "On Behalf of My Son," and the verdict is not kind.
The film, which premiered in Toronto's Platform competition, follows Vicentina, a mother played by Rejane Faria, after her son causes a fatal bus crash. Per the review, the story sees her embark on a quest to personally visit and express regret to those who lost loved ones.
Variety argues that while the premise is strong, the execution falters. The outlet calls the nearly two-and-a-half-hour film "labored" and "unfocused," noting that Faria's central performance works against the movie, with repetitive emoting that feels stilted.
The review states that the repetitive structure of Vicentina's visits makes the film feel rote, with few meaningful differences between encounters until late in the runtime. It notes that other characters, like a grieving fiancé played by Fábio Leal, offer more compelling moments, but the narrative fails to let them significantly impact the protagonist.
