THE SECRET AGENT

O Agente Secreto

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Brazil, 1977. Marcelo, a technology specialist in his early forties, arrives in Recife during carnival week, fleeing danger and hoping to reunite with his son. But the city is no safe haven—violence and political unrest simmer beneath the festive chaos. 

From acclaimed director Kleber Mendonça Filho, THE SECRET AGENT is a slow-burn political noir that blends historical intrigue with richly drawn characters. Drawing from the archival research behind his elegiac documentary Pictures of Ghosts, Mendonça Filho infuses the film with a deep love for Brazil—its people, history, and cinematic heritage. Split diopter shots, split screens, editing wipes, and even a surreal sequence inspired by Brazilian folklore create a visually playful yet tension-laced atmosphere.

Anchored by Wagner Moura’s magnetic, old-school star power, the film unfolds at an unhurried pace, immersing viewers in a sun-drenched, suspense-filled portrait of a nation in transition—and one man caught in its shifting tides.