The Secret Agent

In an action thriller set in 1970s Brazil, we meet Marcelo, who quickly realizes the dangers of being on the political left as the military junta tightens its grip.

1970s Brazil is an unsafe place for the political left, and the military junta terrorizes the opposition. Engineer Marcelo has somewhat randomly become a man of interest to the junta, and as viewers we gradually see what has happened in the past, and how the safe haven of Recife, in the far east of the country, proves to be anything but a permanent place to stay. 

Like a dusty Coen Brothers film interspersed with inspiration from the mysterious 1970s classic The Passenger starring Jack Nicholson, this is a multi-layered film that fascinates, confuses, and entertains. In this year’s edition of the Cannes Film Festival, the film deservedly won the award for Best Actor.  

Jon Sæter

Closing Film

The Secret Agent is the festival’s closing film. Before the screening in Vega 1 on Sunday, November 16, there will be an awards ceremony prior to the film.

An Ode to the Missing

This film is part of the section “An Ode to the Missing,” exploring Latin America’s dark history of dictatorship and the unsettling parallels to our own time.