The Wasteland Reviewer

The Secret Agent (2025) Written Review

How impactful were the 1970s for the country of Brazil? Brazilian cinema has put a spotlight on this specific period which was filled with political unrest and authoritarian rule. Certain films coming out of Brazilian cinema have grabbed the larger international cinematic zeitgeist, like I’m Still Here last year, and have truly elevated film for this nation. With 2025, we have a new impactful export from Brazil with The Secret Agent. From filmmaker Kleber Mendonca Filho, The Secret Agent focuses on the story of a technology expert (Wagner Moura) who returns home to Recife and soon realizes that this place is not as safe as he realized. 

What does Filho offer from behind the came to bring this story of 70s Brazil to life? This is a crisp and rich-looking film that captures the time so perfectly. There is a grain, texture, and vibrance to the look of the film. The colors pop on screen whether the life of this city is brought to life or the evidence of the violence is plastered on the screen. Filho brings this beautiful tapestry of humanity to life while also offering some of the most disturbing elements of this political unrest. Cinematographer Evgenia Alexandrova does impressive work by capturing this period perfectly, allowing the experience to envelop you. The costumes and hairstyling are on point as well in bringing this walk of life to the big screen. One of the most important elements of the film that captures the “feel” of the film is the music. The score was crafted by Mateus Alves and Tomaz Alves Souza which captures the culture of the people while offering some intense and engaging elements that elevate plenty of sequences in the film. There are certainly some bumpy elements in the film’s presentation regarding the tone of the film (that swings a little wild) but there are some truly charming moments and plenty of impressively intense moments that give this a true thriller “feel”. 

Does Filho’s screenplay deliver on the same level as the confident direction? One of the weaker elements of the film is its lack of focus. You can appreciate the beautiful tapestry of Brazil that is brought to life in The Secret Agent. But that also contributes to some of the pacing issues in the film and the uneven engagement along the way. This is a nearly 160-minute film that could have benefited from trimming of the narrative beats along the way. There are some elements that were bold, including a whole section related to a human leg, but lacked focus and helped contribute to the tone getting off kilt. A trimmed down version of this script could have been quite the amazing cinematic experience but even with some of the added baggage, The Secret Agent is still a compelling and rich exploration. You have plenty of engaging and compelling characters that fill out this robust screenplay. You also have some compelling explorations of the greater political climate of this present time in Brazil that will keep you engaged. Some good humor, deeply emotional moments, and some intense and well staged bursts of violence, The Secret Agent offers up an impressive tapestry of 70s Brazil.

What is one of the true shining elements of Filho’s film? The strong, sturdy performance of Moura at the center of the film. His performance is one that is more subtle than many turns that get a lot of awards consideration, but it is one that is an impressive anchor for The Secret Agent. With all of these narrative threads, thematic ideas, and differing tonal elements, Moura is the constant that acts as the glue for the film. The audience sees Moura witness so much from explicit sexual encounters to bloody violence to endearing human connections and his expression of this film is always engaging and stalwart. There are plenty of interesting and engaging performances sprinkled throughout the film (including a small but memorable turn by recently deceased character actor, Udo Kier) but it is Moura that gives the audience a reflective reference point to all the love, hate, violence, lust, and joy that appears throughout this film. 

Is The Secret Agent another great representation of Brazilian cinema? Along with I’m Still Here, these films have acted as amplifiers to international audiences to peek into Brazilian culture (which is so welcomed) while also shining a light on the pitfalls and horrors of authoritarianism (which is necessary). Filho’s film might not be as focused and tonally sound as it could have been, but it is still a wonderful cinematic experience to explore this rich tapestry of humanity. Plenty of great characters, thrilling elements, and a powerful and sturdy central performance are the most significant touches in crafting this good film.