The Secret Agent opens in second place at the French box office

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The Brazilian film The Secret Agentdirected by Kleber Mendonça Filhopremiered to critical and commercial success in France last Wednesday, December 17th. The production reached 184 theaters in 146 cities and debuted in second place at the French box office, behind only Avatar: Fire and Ashin a reception described as historically positive by the local press.

The country’s main newspaper, The Worlddefined the film as “first work”. Other important publications endorsed the enthusiasm: Liberation called him “a political, funny and sensual film”; Les Inrocks decreed a “instant birth of a classic”; e Telerama defined it as “a stunning thriller in the style of a spy film”. Cinema notebooks e Elle They were also scathing in their praise.

The actor Wagner Moura It was one of the biggest highlights for critics. The magazine The New Obs stated that it was “a great film about the rule of the dictatorship with a magnificent Wagner Moura”. A Vogue pointed him out as “one of the best actors today”and so on GQ French highlighted that “Wagner Moura shines in the splendid The Secret Agent”.

The film’s international trajectory now continues to commercial circuits in the United States (from December 19th), with premieres confirmed in Italy (January 29th) and the United Kingdom and Ireland (February 20th). The film remains on display in Germany and Portugal.

All about The Secret Agent

Set in Recife, in 1977, the film follows Marcelo (Wagner Moura), a technology expert who returns to Recife after years away in search of peace, only to discover that his hometown hides dangers and disturbing secrets.

The work provides an overview of Brazilian society and politics in the 1970s, touching on themes such as political repression, restriction of rights and the use of technology as a tool of totalitarian control.

The cast of the political thriller also brings together big names in Brazilian cinema, including Maria Fernanda Cândido, Gabriel Leone, Carlos Francisco, Alice Carvalho, Roberto Diogenes, Hermila Guedesbetween others. Kier’s thighof Bacurauis also in the film. It is directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho, who also wrote the script.

No Cannes Film Festival this year, The Secret Agent had a historic result, taking home two trophies: Kleber Mendonça Filho won the award for Best Director, and Wagner Moura received the award for Best Actor. There, the film also won the Art Cinema Award and the FIPRESCI critics award.

The film is showing in cinemas in Brazil, with distribution from Showcase Films.