Don't Call Me Son

press release:

Don’t Call Me Son (Mae So Ha Uma) (2016, Brazil, 82 min., Digital)

Dir: Anna Muylaert

Cast: Naomi Nero, Daniel Botelho, Dani Nefussi, Matheus Nachtergaele, Lais Dias

A queer teenager’s life is upended when it is revealed that his working class mom stole him from a wealthy family at birth.  Thrust into a well-meaning but very conservative home, Pierre dons a zebra-print mini dress and pushes back.  As in her excellent 2015 film The Second Mother, writer/director Anna Muylaert punctures the entitlement and hypocrisy of the Brazilian bourgeoisie, while still retaining a central compassion for her individual characters.  Among Don’t Call Me Son’s greatest pleasures is Dani Nefussi’s bravura dual performance as both of Pierre’s mothers, each portrayal completely distinct and believable. Winner of the Teddy Award for best LGBT film at the 2016 Berlin Film Festival.  In Portuguese with English subtitles.

This fall, the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (MMoCA) will premiere a powerhouse slate of acclaimed films to Madison audiences.  MMoCA’s Spotlight Cinema will show eight critically-celebrated and award-winning narrative features and documentaries from around the world, screening every Wednesday night from September 28 through November 16. Highlights include the winner of the Palme d’Or at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival (Dheepan), the winner of the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival (Sand Storm), and new work by master directors Hirokazu Kore-eda (After the Storm) and Nikolaus Geyrhalter  (Homo Sapiens).

​"MMoCA's Spotlight Cinema series is Madison’s chance to experience eight of the year’s most acclaimed and vital arthouse films on the big screen. These eight films comprise a wide-ranging survey of contemporary world cinema, including top prize-winners from Cannes and Sundance, new work by revered master directors, and envelope-pushing visions from the auteurs of tomorrow," stated Mike King, Guest Film Curator.

Spotlight Cinema is curated by Mike King, and is a program of MMoCA’s education department. Funding for the series has been provided by maiahaus, Venture Investors, LLC, and an anonymous donor. Ticket sales begin at 6:30 pm in the Museum lobby; films screen at 7 pm in the lecture hall. Admission is free for MMoCA members and $7 per screening for the general public.