Saved events

The Secret Agent (15)

— ,Cinemas
A man in a light blue shirt leans against a petrol station pillar, next to a yellow taxi. In Brazil.

Equally entertaining and stinging, this political drama is a loving portrait of Brazil and the life of its people under a dictatorship.

It's Carnival week in 1977 and widower on the run Marcelo (Wagner Moura) hopes to reunite with his young son and flee the country. 

Finding refuge in a resistance commune run by a charismatic 70-year-old, the chaos and hitmen from his former life soon catch up with him. With corrupt forces and a country riddled with violence, this mesmerizing drama delivers a pulsating, sun-drenched ride through Brazil's political turbulence.

Director Kleber Mendonça Filho (Bacarau) navigates the country's painful past, whilst delivering a masterful ode to the art of cinema. With visual influences coming from Westerns and B-movies, the script is novelistic in its breadth and pacing.  

A loving portrayal of a place and its people, The Secret Agent was the most awarded film at Cannes last year, with Moura winning Best Actor for his commanding performance. 

Tagged with: Cinema Magic Mondays New releases

In Portuguese with English subtitles.

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) provides guidance to audiences, to help them choose what’s right for them and avoid what’s not. For guidance, please click here and type the film title into the search bar. 

Film information
  • Release year   2025
  • Country of origin   Brazil, France, Germany, Netherlands
  • Director   Kleber Mendonça Filho
  • Runtime   2hrs 38mins

Cinemas

Location
Barbican Cinema 1 is located within the main Barbican building on Level -2. Head to Level G and walk towards the Lakeside Terrace where you’ll find stairs and lifts to take you down to the venue floor.   

Address
Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London
EC2Y 8DS

Public transport
The Barbican is widely accessible by bus, tube, train and by foot or bicycle. Plan your journey and find more route information in ‘Your Visit’ or book your car parking space in advance.