REVIEW: "The Secret Agent" / "O Agente Secreto"

Genre: Drama; Comedy; Thriller; Crime

Director: Kleber Mendonça Filho

Writer: Kleber Mendonça Filho

Starring: Wagner Moura, Alice Carvalho, Gabriel Leone, Maria Fernanda Cândido, Isabél Zuaa, Udo Kier and Tânia Maria

I was fortunate for having Kleber Mendonça Filho presenting the film himself in my session, because he recalled some aspects of the movie he wanted the audience to be aware of: this movie represents an act of resistance and an ode to the importance of the press and cultural spaces (like a theatre) as powerful weapons against authoritarian regimes. So, The Secret Agent is actually some kind of parable about acts of resistance in the form of a political thriller - it's a slow burning film that is smartly balanced with truly funny comedic scenes and some moments of pure human joy that show the movie's true heart beneath its disguise - it's more of a satire to a corrupt system than a manhunt film. It's some kind of cinematic marvel in its own right.

The story presents itself in three different lines in the beginning: a man goes to Recife; a dead body's leg appears in a shark's authopsy; and two men come from a dam where they did something illegal... and that leaves the audience a bit lost at first. As the movie develops, narrative lines start to cross and "Armando" storyline takes the spotlight and then that's when you feel the movie grabbed you. Who's Armando? Who's Marcelo? Where will he go? Will he stay? Why does he run? Whose that leg? What has just happened? Slowly, The Secret Agent starts to feel like a mystery movie as it casts a cinematic spell.

The movie works mostly because Kleber Mendonça Filho has written a screenplay that favors his own cinematic magic. After the cinematic triumph of Bacurau (which still is a perfect 10/10 for me), Kleber decided to create a true movie star vehicle that has substance in great style! The narrative lines might feel complex, but the way he builds his cinematic web combining storytelling tools with great style options make it just work - it's a very visual movie, full of some absurd elements that craft some kind of meaning (don't ask me what meaning, because my interpretation was different from the one sit next to me). In fact, I dare to say Kleber crafts something that could be somewhat comparable to blueprint Tarantino style, but he favors hidden messages, allegories through fantastic and dreamy elements more than the iconic American director. This movie is to Kleber what Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood! was to Tarantino as they share some of the same love letters, but in completely different worlds.

As for Wagner Moura, audiences can understand this movie was written for him. Put front and center, Moura delivers a true megawatt movie star performance as he navigates the fantastic world of 1977's Recife during Carnaval. It's an acting turn that relies heavily (and heavenly) on his charisma and soulful eyes. Blessed with a "carinha de cinema" (as Mendonça Filho himself said during the presentation), the actor undertands the assigment as he creates a layered character whose motivations are purely sentimental despite the intellectual nature of Marcelo. The whole ensemble cast does a great job but there's no way to ignore the only one who was able to steal the scene from Moura: Tânia Maria who delivers a masterclass supporting (mostly comedic) performance as Dona Sebastiana - the way she eats Mendonça Filho's dialogue and then spits it on your face in great style is just gold. 

Visually, the movie is beautiful. I am not talking about the visual effects (which are pretty basic actually, but they do the work), but the cinematography work by Evgenia Alexandrova is simply beautiful: the use of color; the way she plays with the camera when Marcelo is caught in a Carnaval parade; the night lights; or the almost romantic way she shot Cinema São Luiz... so beautifully shot! The editing work is good, adding some pace and dynamics to what it's a mostly slow burning film.

The Secret Agent is a cinematic marvel: a feverish fantastical dream where the absurd, social commentary, tragedy and moments of pure joy meet. Is this a fairy tale? Or did people had to make up some stories in order to survive some harsh times during the harsh political regime? This movie means the act of resistance of art and free thinking in such uncertain times. The work of a great master, Kleber Mendonça Filho proves to be one of the most unique voices in international filmmaking - and here he is in full control of his craft, of his creativity and of his social role as a storyteller.

RATING: 9,5/10

Oscar potential categories:

• Best Picture
• Best International Film
• Best Director
• Best Actor (Wagner Moura)
• Best Original Screenplay
• Best Cinematography