Kleber Mendoca in Cannes- his new film a masterpiece
Kleber Mendoca in Cannes- his new film a masterpiece
His new fulm is a masterpiece. Between thriller, tragedy, and comedy: In his new film, Kleber Mendonça Filho creates a nostalgically vibrant tribute to his hometown of Recife.
Brazil, 1977: During the exuberant Carnival week, Marcelo (Wagner Moura), a man in his mid-forties, returns from São Paulo to his hometown Recife. Here, he hopes to see his son again. But his arrival doesn't go unnoticed – amidst celebrating crowds and omnipresent violence, Marcelo finds himself caught in an ever-tightening web of surveillance, corruption, and mistrust, from which there seems to be no escape. What begins as a personal journey evolves into a dangerous game played in the shadow of the military dictatorship.
The director Kleber Mendoca Filho, born in Recife, Brazil, began his career as a film critic before turning to directing. His debut film, Neighboring Sounds (2012), was Brazil's submission for the Academy Awards. The multi-award-winning drama Aquarius followed in 2016. For Bacurau (2019), Filho received, among other accolades, the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. His most recent film, The Secret Agent (2025), celebrated its world premiere in competition at the 78th Cannes Film Festival.
THE SECRET AGENT celebrated its world premiere in competition at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, where it won four major international awards: two Palme d'Or awards for Best Actor and Best Director, as well as the Critics' Prize (FIPRESCI) and the Independent Cinemas Award (CICAE). Lead actor Wagner Moura (NARCOS) received the Best Actor award at Cannes for his compelling portrayal of Marcelo. Alongside him, Maria Fernanda Cândido (THE TRADITIONAL WITNESS), Gabriel Leone (Netflix series SENNA), Hermila Guedes (SUELY'S CAGE), and Udo Kier (MELANCHOLIA) deliver brilliant performances.
THE SECRET AGENT is an international co-production by Cinemascópio (Brazil), mk2 Productions (France), One Two Films (Germany), and Lemming Film (Netherlands). It received funding from, among others, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg and the FFA. PORT AU PRINCE PICTURES is handling German distribution and will release the film in Germany on November 6, 2025
