Obama places ‘The Secret Agent’ among the best films of the year
As he does every year, Barack Obama, president of the United States between 2009 and 2017, published this Thursday (12/18) a list of his favorite films and books. The surprise was due to the quote from the Brazilian film “The Secret Agent”a work by director Kleber Mendonça Filho starring Wagner Moura. The former Democratic leader listed 11 films of his preference in 2025.
In addition to The Secret Agentthe seventh cited by the former president, stand out One battle after anotherwith Leonardo DiCaprio, and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson; the horror work Sinners, by Ryan Coogler; the Iranian It was just an accidentwinner of the Palme d’Or, by director Jafar Panahi; and Hamnet: life before Hamletby Chloé Zhao.
Barack Obama: tradition of sharing the taste for literature and cinema
(photo: BBC General)
“The Secret Agent” tells the story of professor Marcelo (Wagner Moura), who, in 1977, decides to escape his violent and mysterious past and moves from São Paulo to Recife to start his life over again. After arriving in the capital of Pernambuco during Carnival, he begins to be spied on by his neighbors and finds that chaos has accompanied him since São Paulo.
Among the books recommended by Barack Obama are Mark Twainde Ron Chernow; The record bookby Madeleine Thien; King of ashesby SA Cosby; and Rosaritaby Amita Desai. “As the year 2025 draws to a close, I’m continuing a tradition I started during my time in the White House: sharing my annual lists of favorite books, movies, and music. I hope you find something new to enjoy — and please send me your recommendations for me to check out!”
Rodrigo Craveiro
World Sub-Editor
Journalist graduated from the Federal University of Goiás (UFG) in 1997. Curious by nature, loves looking for stories. Since 2005, he has worked at Correio Braziliense, where he interviewed Nobel Peace laureates, ambassadors and former presidents.
