Netflix Unveils First Look at ‘On Behalf of My Son,’ the New Film by Gabriel Martins (EXCLUSIVE)

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — Netflix released today the first image of Rejane Faria as Vicentina, the lead character in “On Behalf of My Son” (“Vicentina Pede Desculpas”), the new feature written and directed by Gabriel Martins (“Mars One”), which is due to open in the second half of 2026.

The company released the image during the panel Licensing and Co-production on Netflix: Innovative Models to Support Independent Cinema in Brazil, held in Rio2C, the largest creativity gathering in Latin America.

Lensed in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, “On Behalf of My Son” follows Vicentina as she struggles to cope with the death of her son Wesley after a tragic bus accident, in which he was the driver. As the investigation unfolds, evidence suggests that Wesley’s actions may have been a suicide attempt. Vicentina then embarks on a journey to seek out the victims’ families and apologize, while confronting her own grief and uncertainty.

“‘On Behalf of My Son’ is about a woman trying to move forward after an intensely personal tragedy. Rejane Faria brought a powerful sense of truth to this character, delicately balancing all the nuances of a woman carrying an unbearable grief, yet still searching for a way to keep going and reconcile with herself. It’s a film about mourning, humanity and continuing to move forward even when everything seems to collapse,” said director Gabriel Martins.

The film is produced by Filmes de Plástico, internationally recognized for its distinctive artistic voice and award-winning films showcased at some of the world’s leading film festivals. It also stars Maíra Azevedo, Renato Novaes, Karine Telles, Giovanna Heliodoro, Thalma de Freitas and Grace Passô.

38-year-old Martins is regarded as one of the most promising filmmakers of a new generation in Brazil. “Mars One” (“Marte Um”), written and directed by Martins, premiered at Sundance 2022 and won four prizes at the local Gramado Fest. The feature opened in Brazil in Aug. 2022 and was the country’s nominee for the Academy’s International Feature award.

Martins is also the creator, writer and one of the directors of the series “O Natal dos Silva,” a Filmes de Plástico’s production that opened in Nov. 2025 on pay-TV channel Canal Brasil and streamer Globoplay.