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Sep 30, 2025 By Kaveh Jalinous Web Exclusive

In 2023, Brazilian filmmaker Kleber Mendonça Filho made a vastly underrated documentary, Pictures of Ghosts. Within the film, which explores (among many themes) the cinemas of Recife, the filmmaker compares filmgoing to churchgoing and emphasizes the way the cinema (as a space) brings people together and forges community.

The director’s newest film, The Secret Agent, feels like an extension of the ideas he explored in that documentary (in all the best ways). It’s a stunning period piece, a hope-filled testament to the resilience of those who fight against the systems that attempt to control them, and a love letter to both Recife and its cinemas. It’s also one of the best films of the year.

Set in 1977, during the Brazilian dictatorship, the film opens by tracking political refugee Armando (Wagner Moura) as he arrives in Recife. Throughout its first hour, the film provides no details on what led to Armando’s current situation; we simply watch as he assumes a new life under the name “Marcelo.” He sees his parents-in-law and his young son, Fernando (Enzo Nunes), but he’s left all aspects of his old life behind. That is, until he learns that two bounty hunters have arrived in the city looking for him.

Mendonça Filho is not in a hurry to tell this story, as evidenced by both the film’s 160-minute runtime and the slow, thoughtful way its narrative unfolds. Restraining details about Armando’s past is a smart move. The film’s first hour practically washes over you as you try to figure out why the character is making certain decisions or taking certain actions. The relative secrecy of everything also echoes what’s happening in the film. Characters either aiding or conspiring against Armando reveal themselves carefully and unexpectedly, creating a whirlwind of an experience that’s constantly engaging.

The Secret Agent plays somewhat linearly, but not completely so. Mendonça Filho pivots from one plotline to another so quickly that every second demands your attention, as you’ll never know when plotlines will finally intersect. Through taped recordings of the characters speaking, the director also infrequently cuts to a present-day narrative thread, which explores the importance of preserving, honoring, and publicizing history. The film doesn’t need this narrative complexity to work, but its presence makes the story even more poignant and thoughtful.

Because the pacing and narrative styles are so dynamic, The Secret Agent never feels aligned with a single genre in particular. Of course, it’s mainly a political thriller, though it often veers into ’70s neo-noir territory. Chase sequences are shot like espionage action sequences; there’s even a brief (jaw-dropping) sequence that features a Halloween-opening-type POV shot, though not in the way you’d expect. Mendonça Filho’s resistance to conforming to any genre norms is the film’s greatest success, as you never feel it’s merely a period piece. It’s something far greater and more rewarding than that.

Cinema is the beating heart of The Secret Agent. Conversations (and major plot events) occur in the projection room of one of Recife’s stunning movie palaces, and Fernando is obsessed with the concept of going to see Jaws (though, given he’s scared of the poster, Armando bans him from watching it). While it’s initially surprising how vital cinema is to the story, it adds an additional dimension to the narrative’s power. Cinema is a tool of resistance and a representation of history; each film is steeped in the context in which it was made. It allows us to see things others may keep us from seeing and preserves history for what it was, regardless of those who try to silence or sideline it. Mendonça Filho understands that perfectly, and it makes The Secret Agent all the more unforgettable.

Author rating: 8/10