A mysterious bus crash lays the foundation for Gabriel Martins’ unfocused Netflix release, premiering in Toronto's Platform competition.
\n\nA Brazilian drama with a powerful premise but labored execution, Gabriel Martins’ “On Behalf of My Son” follows the ripple effects of a tragic bus accident through the eyes of the driver’s mother, Vicentina (Rejane Faria). As she pillories herself with an apology tour, family members of the other victims veer in and out of the spotlight, offering more potentially affecting moments which — by structural necessity — quickly fade from view. Instead, the dramatic focus pivots entirely around Faria’s performance, which unfortunately works against the movie, more often than not.
\n\nOpening with unassuming portraits of passengers on their commute in the city of Belo Horizonte, “On Behalf of My Son” begins with an enticing visual setup for individual stories that don’t fully materialize. In the moment, however, Martins imbues tremendous intrigue through snippets of the seemingly distracted middle-aged driver, Wesley (Renato Novaes), and eventually, through the crash itself. Its presentation is shocking and harrowing even if you know it’s coming.
\n\nThe film is at its most vigorous here, when its possibilities lie ahead. In the few moments we see Vicentina before…
Original source: https://variety.com/