Love is absolute Love is the root cause of everything, it moves the world, it saves it, but it destroys it. All Latin American telenovelas in one way or another about this strong feeling, and the beautiful Brazilian "Mother's Love" is no exception to this rule. But, unlike many of her colleagues in genre and origin, as the center of this series chooses not the love of a man for a woman, but the love of a mother for her child. This does not exclude romantic feelings, and the entire spectrum of emotions from devotion to hatred, but at the heart of the story is something original and real, irrevocable.
So, “Mother’s Love” like no other series justifies its name, exploring this form of love – maternal love. For this series, such love is a fundamental, indisputable thing, it is an axiom, not a theorem. This is a feeling that no woman who becomes a mother can escape. Such love unites everyone: saints and sinners, so that in Mother’s Love both positive heroines and criminals adore their children. The series describes this feeling as all-encompassing, and, although arising at the moment of birth, it is not limited to them, so such love is experienced by both relatives and adoptive parents. The series does not at any time put the nature, the unconditionalness of maternal love in doubt, so in all the diversity that affects the telenovela, there are no situations of maternal dislike, as if it can not exist at all. Even the wrong women here still love, so to give up such love is like giving up your own soul. Impossible. “Mother’s Love” brings such love to the absolute, it is unquestionable, it will not pass and will not be forgotten, it is much stronger and more important than any other love, which can be changeable and temporary, which is also repeatedly demonstrated by the series.
Without questioning motherly love as such, the series views its power not only as creative, but also in some situations destructive. There are three main characters in the series, but only two of them are important to consider this issue - Lourdes and her antipode Thelma. Having passed, at first glance, different paths, women have much more in common than it seems, they behave and feel in similar situations different from each other. Adoring her children, one of them turns into an absolute mother, but happy with this feeling and complete, doing everything for her children, but not sacrificing herself. The second, on the contrary, regards motherhood as a service and a mission for which one must suffer, and therefore this heroine is unhappy, even without realizing it. The madness that gradually covers Thelma is straightforward, but in contrast to Lourdes, convincing in demonstrating the value of her own choices that this heroine does. The essence of the situation lies not only in maternal love, but in the attitude towards herself - so different in these two women.
In addition to the title theme, like any self-respecting telenovela, "Mother's Love" touches and speaks other important thoughts and ideas. The show’s bright and challenging environmental agenda is just one of the characteristics of the big business issue and its role in society. The series shows that the purely profit-driven business model isn’t just outdated, it’s now criminal, and that feeling is achieved by actually impersonating the series’ main villain Alvaru with his plastic company PWA. It is important not only the confrontation between the tycoon and the environmental activist, although, thanks to the topic of ecology, you can easily and clearly show the inadmissibility of continuing such a life, but the totality of actions of the antihero, simply, a corrupt official, a criminal and even worse, is important. Embodies all the old, traditional that was in Brazilian business, Alvaru, thereby completely discredits the very idea of such a manner of doing business, now completely impossible. By the way, it should be noted that, despite the loudness of environmental activist Davi, the real enemy and danger for Alvaru is not he, but businessman Raul is the same in position and wealth. Thus, only someone with no less power is able to resist the overbearing dealer. The conclusion is not too optimistic, but not without plausibility.
By the way, it is worth paying attention to the attitude of the series to justice. While Mother's Love has positive authorities, namely the police, Wesley and Inspector Miriam, they do not, for the most part, bring any benefit to the positive characters of the series, their influence on the numerous violations of the law that villains allow is minimal. Justice in Love triumphs, but by the power of fate and fate, not by the power of law. Apparently, thereby, the writers of the series show the weakness of the law enforcement and, in general, the legal system of Brazil, some disbelief in it, for which they can not be condemned: the realities of such countries, obviously, are such.
Like any self-respecting telenovela, "Mother's Love" could not ignore the numerous social problems that are relevant for Brazil and for the whole world. The series touches on the issues of surrogacy, racism, women’s rights, the situation of people from the lower social classes, but none of the proposed topics is obtrusive, they are woven as carefully as possible into the canvas of history, and therefore their naturalness in the lives of the main characters does not cause any doubt. The rather controversial decision to reflect the coronavirus pandemic on the screen seems to me correct: telenovelas are obliged to talk about real life, and it is impossible to leave aside what the whole world has lived for several years. In addition, the characters of the series - both positive and negative - set a good example to the audience in terms of wearing masks, applying other precautions, even if it looks a little deliberately.
"Mother's Love" is the first Brazilian series, the music from which I remember. On the one hand, this is not good, but on the other hand, it was woven into the series so qualitatively that it became an integral part of it. The big advantage of the series is its brightness, juicy picture, which is here, despite the fact that it is an urban story. But the city is Rio de Janeiro, so the screensavers have a place for water and the ocean. Such beauty makes it warmer. In addition, I note the excellent work of costume artists who have thought through their individual, sometimes changing with the characters, style of their clothes.
Finally, in conclusion, I will mention just the outstanding acting work of Regina Kaze – Lourdes. This is a real, unique in its depth and elaboration of the heroine, amazing. She is not inferior to Tais Araujo and Adriana Estevez. In general, the cast of “Love” is very strong, and the elaboration of the characters’ images is simply exceptional.
I think Mother's Love will deserve to be one of my favorite Brazilian TV shows. A well-designed, thought-out, realistic, intelligent and emotional series that does not lose its dynamics at any moment, beautiful and convincing. It’s a really good job, worthy of attention if you like this genre.