SECRET AGENT, THE
(director/writer: Kleber Mendonez Filho; cinematographer: Evgenia Alexandrova; editors: Eduardo Serrano, Matheus Farias; music: Tomaz Alves Souza, Mateus Alves; cast: Wagner Moura (Moura Marcelo Alves/Armando Solimoes/Fernando Solimoes), Maria Fernanda Candido (Elza), Tania Maria (Sebastiana), Enzo Nunes (Fernando), Gabriel Leone (Bobbi/Abidias), Carlos Francisco (Alexandre Nascimento), Alice Carvalho (Fatima Nascimento), Roberio Diogenes (Euclides), Hermila Guedes (Claudia), Igor De Araujo (Sergio), Italo Martins (Artilo), Italo Barbosa (Dead Man at gas station), Laura Lufesi (Flavia), Udo Kier (Hans), Roney Villela (Augosto), Isabél Zuaa (Tereza Victoria), Luciano Chirolli (Ghirotti); Runtime: 158; MPAA Rating: R; producer: Emilie Lesclaux; Lemming Film; 2025)-Brazil/France/Germany/Netherlands-in Portuguese with English subtitles)
“A chilling black comedy period thriller about political corruption and of living in a fascist regime.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
A chilling black comedy period thriller about political corruption in a fascist regime, set during 1977 when Brazil was a military dictatorship. It’s directed by the former film critic, the Brazilian filmmaker Kleber Mendonez Filho (“Bacurau”/ “Aquarius”), who tells us that the truth can sometimes set us free. It’s a stylish slow-burn that keeps us guessing as to where it’s going, as it changes tonal modes as it looks back with regret at the country’s dark past.
The middle-aged widower Marcelo (Wagner Moura) is driving across Brazil in a yellow VW Beettle, and stops at a petrol station where there’s a dead body in a car the cops don’t have the time to investigate because of the Carnival, but 2 highway cops have time to shake down Marcelo at the petrol station for cigarettes before letting him go.
Marcelo’s young son Fernando (Enzo Nunes) is in Recife (the director’s hometown) with the parents of his late wife (Alice Carvalho). Playing in the movie house his father-in-law (Carlos Francisco) operates is the Jean-Paul Belmondo film, Le Magnifique, where the French star portrays the character of “the Secret Agent.”
We learn that Marcello must leave the country because the former teacher and techie researcher discovered a government minister stealing research secrets of his lithium battery patented invention at the university and is selling it to those in private industry. As a result, two hit-men (Roney Villela & Gabriel Leone) are after him when a contract is taken out by the corrupt politician (Luciano Chirolli).
Marcelo winds up in a safe house in Recife during Carnival week, as a mysterious resistance group hides him with other political outcasts in a home under the care of the 77-year-old Dona Sebastiana (Tânia Maria). Marcelo supports himself by working at the office of the local record keeping facility.
Jaws came out during this time frame, as a shark is found with a human leg in its stomach and makes quite a stir in the country. The leg comes alive and escapes from the morgue and goes on a killing spree, which results in some gays killed while cruising in the park. When Fernando asks to see Jaws, he’s told the film will give him nightmares and he won’t see it until he’s an adult. When he sees it, he says it cleared up his nightmares.
The overlong arthouse film is a strange but gripping one, that tells a fictionalized tale about political turmoil that has real-life historical trappings. It warns us of the dangers of living in an authoritarian regime.
It played at the Cannes Film Festival.
REVIEWED ON 12/4/2025 GRADE: B
dennisschwartzreviews.com