"I stand under the shadow of a death threat," Neon unveils the captivating teaser trailer for the acclaimed Brazilian cinema masterpiece, titled "The Secret Agent," helmed by the esteemed Brazilian filmmaker Kleber Mendonça Filho. This riveting film made its debut at the prestigious 2025 Cannes Film Festival mere months ago, garnering an array of positive accolades and triumphantly clinching the awards for Best Actor and Best Director. Its journey continues with screenings at Telluride and NYFF.
Set against the backdrop of 1977, the narrative follows a tech researcher fleeing a shrouded past, returning to his hometown of Recife in northern Brazil in quest of tranquility. However, he swiftly discovers that the city bears no semblance to the sanctuary he yearns for. Wagner Moura stars in the title role as Marcelo, the enigmatic "secret agent." In a collaboration that promises cinematic brilliance, master filmmaker Kleber Mendonca Filho joins forces with renowned Brazilian actor Wagner Moura, who delivers an extraordinary, career-defining performance. Together, they craft an exhilaratingly unpredictable, mischievously metamorphosing epic, deeply rooted in history yet resonating with contemporary relevance. It pays homage to the films of Filho’s youth, unfolding amidst a landscape of political upheaval and palpable peril.
Neon has slated this masterpiece for a theatrical release in November, aiming for it to be a formidable contender during the awards season.
Amidst the boisterous revelry of Carnival week, Marcelo (portrayed by Wagner Moura), a widower, arrives in Recife, Brazil, in 1977—a city as electric as it is volatile. A researcher, Marcelo finds himself unwittingly ensnared in the heart of the dictatorship's turbulent political landscape. He becomes a marked man, hunted by mercenary killers, haunted by the specters of his past, and besieged by the ruthless, mischievously militant essence of Brazil in 1977. Amidst escalating threats, Marcelo, aided by a mysterious woman named Elza and her compatriots within the burgeoning underground resistance, remains steadfast in his mission to flee Brazil with his young son.
Known as "O Agente Secreto" in Portuguese, "The Secret Agent" is penned and directed by the acclaimed Brazilian writer-director Kleber Mendonça Filho, whose credits include "Neighboring Sounds," "Aquarius," "Bacurau," "Crítico," "Pictures of Ghosts," and numerous acclaimed short films. It is produced by Emilie Lesclaux, Wagner Moura, and Kleber Mendonça Filho. Having premiered earlier this year at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, Neon will introduce "The Secret Agent" to select US theaters starting November 26th, 2025.
Intrigued?
