Brazilian auteur Kleber Mendonça Filho has delivered what critics are calling one of the year’s most compelling cinematic experiences with The Secret Agent, a genre-bending epic that transports viewers to the oppressive atmosphere of 1977 Brazil during military dictatorship. Starring Wagner Moura in a career-defining performance, the film has been making waves on the international festival circuit since its premiere at Cannes 2025.
A Haunting Portrait of Brazil’s Dark Past
The film follows Armando (Moura), a former university department head from São Paulo who flees to his native Recife after running afoul of corrupt officials attempting to embezzle public research funding. Traveling under the assumed name Marcelo, he seeks refuge among other political “refugees” while waiting for forged passports that will allow him and his son Fernando to escape the country[1]. The opening sequence immediately establishes the film’s tense atmosphere: a vivid yellow VW Beetle pulls into a rural petrol station where a corpse lies under cardboard, ignored by corrupt police officers more interested in extorting cigarettes from travelers[1].
Shot with Panavision anamorphic lenses that evoke classic Westerns, Mendonça Filho’s film operates as both a meticulous period piece and an audacious genre experiment[1]. The director, known for previous acclaimed works Aquarius (2016) and Bacurau (2019), demonstrates masterful control over tone and pacing throughout the film’s substantial 158-minute runtime.
Blending Entertainment with Political Commentary
What sets The Secret Agent apart is its refusal to conform to traditional genre boundaries. Critics have noted how the film seamlessly shifts between drama, thriller, and even B-movie horror territory without losing narrative coherence[3]. In one particularly bold sequence, the film satirizes media-fabricated panic through a vignette about a sentient severed leg that goes on a killing rampage in a gay cruising area[1]. Rather than feeling disjointed, these tonal shifts serve the film’s broader exploration of life under authoritarian rule.
The film doesn’t shy away from depicting the marginalized voices often erased from official historical records. Mendonça Filho, a native of Recife himself, meticulously reconstructs the period to illuminate the quiet terror faced by LGBTQ+ individuals, the exploitation of indigenous workers, and the everyday violence that permeated Brazilian society during the dictatorship[2]. The city of Recife becomes a character in its own right—a living archive pulsing with secrets and scars.
Wagner Moura’s Commanding Performance
At the heart of the film is Moura’s nuanced portrayal of a man caught between survival and principle. Best known for his Emmy-nominated turn as Pablo Escobar in Netflix’s Narcos, Moura brings layers of complexity to Armando/Marcelo, embodying both a fugitive’s alertness and the weary detachment of someone navigating a collapsing world[2]. Critics have praised his ability to hold together the film’s ambitious scope, with one reviewer calling it a “career-best performance”[3].
Critical Reception and Festival Success
Since its Cannes premiere, The Secret Agent has garnered widespread critical acclaim. Reviewers have consistently praised Mendonça Filho’s confident direction and the film’s unhurried pacing, which allows moments of bizarre humor, startling eroticism, and profound sadness to breathe[2]. The film has been described as “a masterpiece” by Sight and Sound, with critics noting how it succeeds as both politically incisive commentary and thoroughly entertaining cinema[1].
The film’s two-hour-forty-minute runtime has been a point of discussion, with some critics acknowledging it as a “long sit” while others argue the extended duration is essential to the film’s immersive power[3]. The deliberate pacing invites audiences not merely to watch but to inhabit Recife’s streets and Marcelo’s precarious existence[2].
A Testament to Cinema’s Political Power
The Secret Agent represents a rare achievement: a film that is simultaneously a committed effort at salvaging historical memory and an intoxicating feat of entertainment[1]. Mendonça Filho demonstrates that politically engaged cinema need not sacrifice aesthetic pleasure or narrative drive. The film’s confidence in handling its weighty themes while incorporating elements of jazz-infused soundscapes, frank sexuality, and surreal imagery speaks to a director at the peak of his powers.
For audiences seeking challenging, rewarding cinema that grapples with historical trauma while delivering genuine thrills, The Secret Agent stands as one of 2025’s essential viewing experiences. It’s a film that demands presence and attention, offering in return a profound meditation on memory, resistance, and the stories that refuse to be forgotten.
Sources:
[2] https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27847051/
[3] https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_secret_agent_2025/reviews
[4] https://insessionfilm.com/movie-review-nyff-2025-the-secret-agent/
Photo by Sammy-Sander on Pixabay