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The Secret Agent Opens in Theaters With Awards Buzz and Critical Praise

Wagner Moura leads Kleber Mendonça Filho’s noir-tinged political thriller set in 1977 Recife.

Overview

  • Neon launched the film in select theaters on November 26, 2025.
  • Kleber Mendonça Filho won Best Director at Cannes and Wagner Moura won Best Actor, and Brazil chose the film as its Oscar submission for Best International Feature.
  • Critics have hailed the movie’s craft and performances, with some calling it one of the year’s best.
  • Cinematographer Evgenia Alexandrova recreates the period with Panavision B‑series lenses, bold zooms, and split‑diopter shots to achieve a textured 1970s look.
  • The film blends noir, political thriller, and surreal motifs with archival framing devices, and features a noted turn by Udo Kier.