Story perspectives

Filmmaker Mendonça Filho Revives Brazilian Cinema's Theatrical Roots

11/26/2025

Summary

Story summary

Kleber Mendonça Filho, Brazilian filmmaker, presents The Secret Agent, set in 1977 Brazil under the dictatorship, opening with a cadaver at a gas station.
The film blends neo-Western and political thriller styles.
Filho says Pictures of Ghosts influenced this narrative and cinema's cultural role.
He notes the decline of traditional cinemas in Brazil as venues shift to malls.
The theatrical experience remains central to his filmmaking, prioritizing theater over streaming.

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Story summary

Kleber Mendonça Filho, Brazilian filmmaker, presents The Secret Agent, set in 1977 Brazil under the dictatorship, opening with a cadaver at a gas station.
The film blends neo-Western and political thriller styles.
Filho says Pictures of Ghosts influenced this narrative and cinema's cultural role.
He notes the decline of traditional cinemas in Brazil as venues shift to malls.
The theatrical experience remains central to his filmmaking, prioritizing theater over streaming.