O Agente Secreto

"The Secret Agent" is a film I just saw at the Philadelphia Film Festival. Before I talk about the plot, I must warn you....this is NOT a film for kids or for those turned off by violence. The film features some brutal murders near the end and the story is certainly depressing...as it should be.

The story is set in Brazil in the 1970s. The nation had been under a military dictatorship since 1964 and the police in the film are uniformly shown to be evil. One of the people the police are looking for a man who you learn has done NOTHING illegal...he just got on the wrong side of a well-connected and evil man. So, much of the film consists of him hiding as well as various evil scum looking to kill him.

Is this a recipe for a fun film? Certainly not! But it is very well made and teaches us about a period in history we might not know much about and should! Well made and a sad film that might leave you feeling a bit drained by the time it's completed.

Set against the tense atmosphere of Brazil in 1977, "Secret Agent" follows Fernando, a man in his forties who moves to Recife in an attempt to escape his troubled past.

The film's narrative is intriguing and highly subjective, skillfully using the "show, don't tell" approach. This makes the story feel deeper and more realistic, allowing the audience to interpret emotions and events for themselves.

Wagner Moura delivers an outstanding performance, portraying Fernando as an introspective and complex character. His subtle gestures and expressions convey emotion and inner conflict without relying on dialogue.

The film's cinematography and color palette effectively capture the oppressive social atmosphere of the time, adding depth to the story's tone.

However, the film does have its flaws. The soundtrack feels too subdued, adding little emotion to the scenes, and the slow-paced editing-filled with long, repetitive shots-can test the viewer's patience.

In the end, "Secret Agent" stands out for its strong performances and immersive atmosphere, but it's held back by its pacing and understated soundtrack.

Rating: 8/10.

The Secret Agent is a film that, while ambitious, doesn't quite deliver on its promises. Its long runtime weighs heavily on the narrative, which oscillates between moments of great intensity and others where the pacing falters. The title, though intriguing, feels somewhat disconnected from the true essence of the story.

The acting is, without a doubt, the film's strongest asset. There's authenticity in the performances, well-crafted nuances, and a clear sense of commitment from the cast. The 1970s setting and the backdrop of Brazil's military dictatorship are excellent thematic choices, with immense potential to provoke reflection.

However, the script loses focus. Too many storylines are introduced, too many subplots promised, only to be left unresolved or poorly developed. The result is a lingering sense of a film that aimed to say more than it could effectively organize.

In short, The Secret Agent is a visually competent and well-intentioned work that ultimately gets lost in its own ambition. The marketing built expectations of a powerful impact that the final product fails to sustain. In the end, it's a middling film, full of good ideas and solid performances, but with uneven execution.

I finally saw (for me) the most anticipated film of the year, Kleber Mendonça's best-and I like them all. Despite having read about it and seen the trailers, the film still surprised me. The final scenes moved me, something I hadn't experienced with his other films. Wagner Moura has an absurd, magnetic stage presence. Unpredictable, funny, disconcerting, and moving, The Secret Agent manages to convey the Brazilian soul on screen-quite a feat. All the countless characters are rich, captivating. A masterpiece, worthy of all the awards it has received and may yet receive.

The Secret Agent is more than just one of the great films of the year. It reflects the maturity of Brazilian cinema and the strength of a generation of filmmakers who have changed the way the country is viewed on the international stage. After the success of Walter Salles's I'm Still Here, which reignited Brazil's presence at the Oscars, the arrival of Kleber Mendonça Filho's new film is surrounded by expectations, comparisons, and challenges. And perhaps that is precisely why The Secret Agent is not a film that will please everyone - nor does it try to be.

Some may be frustrated by the slow pace, the prolonged silences, or the open ending. But it is precisely in these details that the beauty of The Secret Agent lies. Mendonça does not want to shock, he does not want to give everything away on a silver platter. He wants to provoke reflection, he wants the viewer to leave the theater still processing what they saw - and what they felt. The discomfort the film causes is not a flaw; it is language.

What we see here is mature Brazilian cinema, bold and aware of its importance. A film that looks to the past without becoming hostage to nostalgia, and that speaks about the present without needing to shout. O Agente Secreto is a deep dive into the history and soul of a country that is still trying to understand itself. It is a work that requires patience, but rewards it with intensity.

In the end, what Kleber Mendonça Filho delivers is a film about memory, resistance, and belonging. A portrait of a man trying to escape himself, and of a country trying to forget what cannot be forgotten. With precise direction, an engaging script, and remarkable performances, O Agente Secreto is undoubtedly one of the great milestones of recent Brazilian cinema.