The Secret Agent (2025) – A Haunting Masterpiece from Brazil’s Dark Past
I finally watched The Secret Agent (2025), directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho, after seeing it everywhere on 2025 “best of” lists and winning Best Foreign Language Film at the Critics’ Choice Awards (announced January 4, 2026). I went in curious but not expecting much… and came out blown away. This nearly 3-hour film flew by, pulling me deeper into Brazil’s terrifying 1977 military dictatorship. It’s tense, heartbreaking, and powerful—one of the best movies of the year. Perfect 10/10 for me, and I’m sure we’ll see it shine at the 2026 Oscars (it’s already shortlisted).
The Plot: A Man on the Run in a Broken Country
In 1977 Recife during Carnival, Armando (Wagner Moura, incredible) arrives at a gas station and finds a dead body on the ground—shot by the guard during a robbery attempt. Police show up late, harass him, even ask for a bribe, and ignore the corpse completely. That opening scene sets the tone: a society where life means nothing, corruption is everywhere, and fear rules.
Armando (also known as Marcelo) is running from something—or someone. We don’t know why at first. He’s trying to reconnect with his son while hiding in his hometown, but Recife is no safe haven. As his past catches up, we learn he’s a former professor and tech expert labeled a “secret agent” (aka communist threat) by the regime. Killers are after him, and every step feels dangerous.
Why This Movie Is So Powerful
The film paints a chilling picture of Brazil under dictatorship: police brutality, greedy businessmen doing whatever they want, killers dumping bodies in the sea, a society completely broken morally. One unforgettable moment—a shark caught with a human leg in its stomach—becomes a satirical joke in newspapers and among people. Nobody cares it’s a real crime, a real tragedy. That leg symbolizes everything wrong: corruption so deep that horror becomes comedy.
But there’s hope too. Armando and a few others quietly resist, trying to make things better despite the risk. It’s about courage in impossible times, the cost of speaking truth, and how ordinary people survive (or don’t) under oppression.
What Stood Out
- Wagner Moura’s performance is quiet but devastating—you feel his fear, guilt, and determination.
- The atmosphere is suffocating: Carnival’s loud joy against silent terror, bright colors hiding darkness.
- Historical details feel real and frightening—surveillance, disappearances, urban legends born from actual atrocities.
- That slow-burn mystery about Armando’s past kept me hooked until the reveals hit.
My Tiny Issue
The first half is deliberately slow, building the world and mystery. Some might find it drags a little, but for me it was necessary—once the truth comes out, everything clicks and the tension explodes.
Ratings and Critical Reception
- IMDb: 7.9/10 (9,300 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 99 % critics (149 reviews) / 82 % audience
Cannes loved it (Best Director and Best Actor), first Brazilian film nominated for Golden Globe Best Picture – Drama. Brazil’s Oscar entry and already shortlisted. My 10/10 matches the critical praise—it’s that good.
Final Take: Essential Viewing
At 10/10, The Secret Agent is a haunting, beautifully made thriller that doesn’t just entertain—it makes you feel the weight of history. If you want powerful cinema about resistance, corruption, and human dignity in dark times, this is a must-watch.
Kleber Mendonça Filho delivered something special. Proud to see it representing Brazil on the world stage.
What did you think of The Secret Agent? Did that shark scene hit you too? Drop your thoughts below!
And suggest my next watch—after this I’m craving more Latin American political dramas or anything set in dictatorship eras.
If this review moved you, like, follow, share. See you in the next one!
