The Secret Agent - Review

The Secret Agent (2025)

★★★½ A NARRATIVE KALEIDOSCOPE OF 1977 BRAZIL

By Ray Manukay

Official Synopsis

In 1977 Brazil, a man on the run maneuvers through a fragmented landscape of political tension and surreal encounters in a country teetering on the edge.

The Secret Agent, directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho, is a narrative kaleidoscope which seems to be telling several unique unrelated stories at the same time. The story doesn’t burden itself with trying to spoon-feed a coherent plot. Instead, it drops the viewer in the middle of 1977 Brazil and challenges them to catch up.

Where You've Seen Them

WAGNER MOURA

• Narcos (Pablo Escobar)
• Civil War (Joel)
• Elite Squad (Captain Nascimento)
• Elysium (Spider)

KLEBER MENDONÇA FILHO (Director)

• Bacurau
• Aquarius
• Neighboring Sounds

"The Secret Agent is one part Tarantino, one part Lynch, sprinkled with DePalma and Scorsese." - Ray Manukay

Production Info

Director: Kleber Mendonça Filho

Lead: Wagner Moura

Setting: 1977 Brazil

Style: Non-linear / Chaptered

Filho mischievously takes the audience on seemingly unrelated side tracks while we try to decipher the main story of a man on the run. By the time the main thread settles in an hour later, we are content just absorbing the full quirky atmosphere. The film is anchored by a mesmerizing Wagner Moura, who traverses the story with a world-weariness that remains grounded even when things spiral into the surreal.

The production value is undeniable. The film successfully transports the audience to 1977—you can feel the sweat and the lack of modern amenities. From the typewriters and diesel-powered cars to the movie theatre projectors, the art design is incredible.

Cinephile Fun Facts

• Period Accuracy: The production relied heavily on practical effects and vintage equipment to capture the specific aesthetic of 1970s Recife.
• Tarantino Influence: Like Pulp Fiction, the film uses a chapter-based structure to fragment its timeline.
• Auteur Vision: Director Filho is known for using genre tropes to explore Brazilian social and political history.

THE PROS

• Mesmerizing lead performance by Wagner Moura
• Impeccable, immersive 1977 production design
• Daring, non-linear "tapestry" storytelling
• Rich, quirky atmosphere and surreal tone

THE CONS

• Fragmented plot may be confusing for some
• Demands high level of audience patience

FINAL VERDICT

The Secret Agent is a demanding but rewarding ride. It’s best enjoyed by simply absorbing and trusting the action rather than trying to race ahead of it. A highly recommended tribute to the masters of cinema.

★★★½

Full review on LETTERBOXD