Transported back to Brazil in 1977, The Secret Agent (O Agente Secreto) follows Armando. Or known by his assumed identity, Marcelo (Wagner Moura) – a technology university professor who’s on the run from hired killers. He returns to his hometown and reunites with his son, Fernando (Enzo Nunes) and paternal grandparent, Alexandre Nascimento (Carlos Francisco).
Set during Brazil’s 1970s dictatorship era, known as the “Years of Lead”, Marcelo witnesses violence in the streets as the story opens with a powerful image of a carcass that’s been left there. Decomposing for days. In search of a better life in Recife away from the dangers of Sao Paulo, he now works in the Government archives.
We meet his hometown community including the feisty older landlady, Dona Sebastiana (Tânia Maria). She provides the much-needed comic relief in the story. But we also see how the town’s corrupt police behave too. This includes Chief Euclides (Robério Diógenes) and his team who ultimately place themselves in jeopardy amongst the hitman’s plans for Marcelo.
The Secret Agent Review:
Captured in a Golden Hue
There’s no doubt the film is beautifully shot. Lit in a golden hue that captures the mixture of Brazilian culture and the 1970s era. We’re shrouded in a bright canary yellow from Brazil’s telephone booths to Marcelo’s vintage Volkswagen beetle. Interestingly, this vivid use of colour completely contrasts the violent undertones of the story. There’s striking visuals but with a tough and striking story too.
However, Marcelo not only tries to keep a low profile with his new alias but wants to desperately keep his family history and identity very much alive too. He searches for his mother’s birth certificate as a way to reclaim his history in a time where dictatorship ruled against the very thing he’s searching for.
But Marcelo’s past has a way of catching up with him. Especially when a corrupt and wealthy industrialist, Henrique Ghirotti (Luciano Chirolli) holds a vendetta against him. He hires two hitmen – Augusto (Roney Villela) and his stepson Bobbi (Gabriel Leone) to carry out Marcelo’s death. But things get even more dangerous when they hire local hitman, Vilmar (Kaiony Venâncio) to carry out the deed.
These scenes ramp up the tension. They run at a much faster pace compared to the slower build-up of Act One. The atmosphere Kleber Mendonça Filho creates is one of unease, pressure, and chaotic paranoia in a background that speaks to the harsh reality of 1970s Brazil. But the story also cleverly plays with time.
The Secret Agent Review:
Playing with Time
Simultaneously, in present day, we discover researcher, Flavia is working on Marcelo’s story. Through her perspective, we learn what happened in Marcelo’s story in a time where media was censored. They work tirelessly as they attempt to uncover Marcelo’s real story behind the repressed news reports. This adds another layer to the background and history of the time.
Interestingly, the story shifts between Marcelo’s and Flavia’s perspective. That is until we fully become immersed into her research project. How we discover Marcelo’s journey is both fascinating and poignant. The shift in time to present day makes the story even more interesting.
The main plot point is moved forward in time. This is somewhat disappointing because it feels almost like cheating the story itself. If you expect the main conflict to be resolved in Marcelo’s time, then the story strand is left hanging. Instead, it’s only later on in the present time, told through a different character’s perspective that the mystery surrounding the protagonist, Marcelo comes to an end. But it’s really missing his perspective here. Even if we do get to hear his voice through recordings that Flavia listens to.
Even though this can be seen as a clever plot device, it projects more woe and disappointment than thrill and excitement. We spend so long seeing the story through Marcelo’s eyes to be left and told through someone else’s eyes, that we’re left reeling to be back with him. Building such a strong connection with the protagonist, Marcelo makes us feel heartbroken when we leave his perspective completely for Flavia’s viewpoint. It’s interesting and told well but is too sad at the same time.
The Secret Agent Review:
A Spark on Political History & Paranoia
The Secret Agent not only speaks on the political history of Brazil but showcases the brutality and paranoia of its time. Through Marcelo’s eyes we see the dangers of the streets, the rule of dictatorship, and how trying to live a normal life in 1970s Brazil was anything but normal. The acting here is brilliant by its lead star, Wagner Moura. Recently, he won ‘Best Actor’ at Cannes Film Festival 2026 and ‘Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama’ at the Golden Globe Awards 2026. But Netflix fans will perhaps best know him for playing Pablo Escobar in the popular series, Narcos alongside Pedro Pascal. This film also marked the final role for cult icon actor, Udo Kier.
Although, the story itself is quite complicated. The midpoint builds up a huge dramatic tension. But then the switch in point of view from Marcelo to Flavia dissolves this thrill. It’s dealing with a heavy topic through the right amount of tension, but the story is where it slightly falls behind. It’s decorated in a beautiful vintage-like cinematography by Evgenia Alexandrova who fills the screen full of saturated colours to build its visual style.
The Secret Agent Review:
A Sweeping Direction
Alongside a rather sweeping direction by Kleber Mendonça Filho. But some scenes become lost within the plot and leave us questioning their importance to the overall story. Which this in turn owes itself to its rather long runtime. It touches on multiple important topics from dictatorship and political corruption to memory and family history.
The story behind The Secret Agent has an important thread running throughout, that keeping memory and family history alive is what matters most. Despite living in such tough times in 1970s Brazil, Marcelo’s story not only speaks on its era but is still relevant today. As we learn to keep our own family history alive amongst tough times too.
Rating: 3 ½ stars
The Secret Agent (2025) is released in UK cinemas on 20th February 2026. You can read more reviews like this, including If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (2025) here.
