Brazil’s cinematic landscape is experiencing a monumental resurgence, evidenced by the remarkable Oscar recognition for Kleber Mendonça Filho’s political drama ‘The Secret Agent.’ The film secured four Academy Award nominations, matching the record set by the iconic 2002 film ‘City of God.’ Its nominations span the prestigious categories of Best Picture, Best Actor for Wagner Moura, Best International Feature, and the newly introduced Achievement in Casting.
The film’s narrative centers on a widowed father who becomes a target of Brazil’s 1970s military dictatorship after confronting a business owner with regime connections. This nomination streak follows last year’s triumph when another Brazilian production, ‘I’m Still Here,’ won the Oscar for Best International Feature, marking the country’s first Academy Award in that category.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has hailed this moment as one of the finest in Brazilian cinematic history, noting that these achievements represent ‘recognition of our culture and of Brazil’s ability to tell stories that move the world.’ Both critically acclaimed films are set during the nation’s military dictatorship (1964-1985) and have sparked nationwide conversations about this dark historical period characterized by disappearances and torture.
Director Mendonça Filho revealed the film has attracted over one million viewers and serves as a artistic response to Brazil’s recent political turmoil, including the far-right administration of former President Jair Bolsonaro. While deeply Brazilian in context, the director emphasized the film’s universal themes of power oppression resonate globally.
The nominations have ignited national pride among Brazilians, with casting director Gabriel Domingues describing the industry’s current state as ‘a moment of intense emotion.’ Cinema expert Ana Paula Sousa from ESPM University noted these successes are transforming Brazilians’ relationship with domestic cinema in a country where movie attendance has historically been low, creating newfound cultural excitement around locally produced films.