O Agente Secreto (The Secret Agent)
2025
****
Director: Kleber Mendonça Filho
Cast: Wagner Moura, Carlos Francisco, Tânia Maria, Robério Diógenes, Alice Carvalho, Gabriel Leone, Maria Fernanda Cândido, Udo Kier, Hermila Guedes, Isabél Zuaa
During the military dictatorship in 1977, a former researcher returns to Recife under a false identity in order to avoid political persecution and reunite with his young son, unaware that there is a price on his head. Like I'm Still Here, Kleber Mendonça Filho's captivating drama depicts Brazil dominated by authoritarian control and deep-rooted corruption. The sprawling story moves at a relaxed pace and doesn't offer quick and easy answers. In fact, it's unclear for most of the runtime how all the story strands come together. They eventually do, but perhaps that could have taken less than 161 minutes. Nevertheless, Wagner Moura gives a terrific, understated performance. Evgenia Alexandrova shot the film using authentic 1970s cameras and lenses, and it looks lovely.
