O Agente Secreto

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.

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 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.

I enjoyed this movie (despite its length, and I usually have a short attention span) and would like to see it again. It is an actors' film, full of great performances. The details of the period and locale seem perfect, it pulls you in. Friends who lived through the Brazilian dictatorship say this film captures the feeling of people disappearing for no reason, strange things happening without explanation.

There are quite a few important parts that I just don't understand, or maybe they are supposed to be open to interpretation.

This movie is a conversation of Pernambuco with Pernambuco. Brazil with Brazil. Maybe may look strange for people Who are not from here (even silly) But every story (even the hairy leg one) is conected with Pernambuco's culture.

Excelent direction, screenplay and acting by Wagner Moura.

About the ending, spoilers ahead:

A lot of people can find that it has a lot of loose endings, but that's the point. The whole movie is about resistance of memory and how unfortunaly, in Brazil, we tend to cast aside. The opening scene shows the indiference we have with violence and how we don't care with individuals. The ending doesn't explain what happened, Who did it, because in real life there's a million storys we just forget and treat like numbers (91 deads and Carnaval)

For people Who maybe feel this film is too long, this movie is not trying to entertain you. Is trying to speak with you, talk to you.