The Secret Agent

Brazil, 1977. Marcelo, a technology expert and widower, is on the run. As the military dictatorship imposes increasingly brutal measures on the population, he arrives in Recife, hoping to reunite with his young son. There, during carnival week, he finds shelter with a group of like-minded people and assumes a false identity. But Marcelo’s situation is more precarious than he realizes: he soon comes to understand that the city is far from the violence-free refuge he is seeking.

The Secret Agent is a simmering political thriller by director Kleber Mendonça Filho (Bacurau, Aquarius), who brings a tumultuous period in Brazilian history to life with his latest work. Through multiple storylines, he portrays a country entangled in violence, corruption, and vendettas—an unruly 1970s carefully constructed from his own memories, family histories, and archival material. Blending styles—suspense, humor, and even a touch of horror—The Secret Agent is not only a gripping cinematic experience, but also a time capsule through which the acclaimed Mendonça Filho offers a sharp analysis of Brazil’s past and present.

The international film community has also recognized the film’s powerful impact: The Secret Agent became the most awarded film at Cannes (Best Director, Best Actor), appeared on numerous “best of” lists, and is still in the running for several Oscar categories—thanks in part to the phenomenal performance of lead actor Wagner Moura.