It’s another win for Brazil. A year after Walter Salles took home the Best International Feature Oscar for “I’m Still Here”, all eyes are now on Kleber Mendonca Filho’s “The Secret Agent”, already the recipient of a handful of trophies from the Cannes Film Festival to the Golden Globe Awards.
What was striking is that both films are set in the same period of Brazil under dictatorship. Where Salles’ haunting drama follows the cusp of this era, “The Secret Agent” explores the grueling time when any ordinary individual can be the target of a dangerous regime.
Wagner Moura is Armando, a former scientist caught in turmoil with the military forces. Under a fake identity, he drove to the town of Recife in hopes of securing his son and escaping the country together.
While the thriller aspect of the movie is peppered throughout, there is looseness in “The Secret Agent” that has only worked in its favor. Armando is no secret agent, but political conflicts force him to look like one. He would send secret telegrams, create fake passports, and own a gun he may never have used before.
It’s suave and sleek, by way of thrillers from Brian De Palma and Robert Altman. There’s a solid chunk where the film throws in a visual homage to Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws”.
With a running time close to three hours, “The Secret Agent” offers some of the most fleeting moments of recent cinema. A mystery actor, towards the very end, not only produces something magical but also satisfyingly ties together the thesis of the film.
“The Secret Agent” is showing in New Zealand cinemas starting tomorrow, 22 January 2026.
Brazil continues its cinematic success with “The Secret Agent,” following last year’s Oscar win for Walter Salles’ “I’m Still Here.” Directed by Kleber Mendonca Filho, the film explores life under Brazil’s dictatorship, focusing on the constant threat faced by ordinary individuals. Wagner Moura delivers a compelling performance as Armando, a former scientist forced into hiding under a false identity. The story blends political tension with thriller elements, portraying survival rather than heroism. Its restrained, character-driven approach strengthens the film’s emotional and political impact.
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