On Location: How The Secret Agent captured the spirit of 1977 Brazil

"If you only saw a few sun-streaked stills from Kleber Mendonça Filho's new film Secret Agent, set largely in the Northeastern Brazilian city of Recife - during a confetti-covered week of Carnival, in 1977 no less - it might seem like a charming opportunity for escapism. In reality, the political thriller follows a man desperately plotting his own escape from the threats of Brazil's two-decades-long military dictatorship, the tentacles of which have wrapped themselves around every element of daily life."

"Here, the joyous and the boisterous contrast the dark and insidious, allowing viewers to be delighted by colourful street scenes and celebrations while the rot of fear creeps in, as the details surrounding our main character (Wagner Moura) and his predicament are revealed. For Mendonça, the film was a chance to return to his hometown of Recife and paint a portrait of a city full of contrasts."

"For Mendonça, the film was a chance to return to his hometown of Recife and paint a portrait of a city full of contrasts, using everything from historic movie theatres to popular waterfront parks in the sultry hours after sunset to tell a story that has already garnered four Oscar nods. To get a sense of how Mendonça time-travelled through Brazil past and present, while drawing on references very close to home, we hopped on the phone with the director himself."

Kleber Mendonça Filho set Secret Agent largely in 1977 Recife during Carnival, using real city locations to contrast exuberant public life with political repression. The political thriller follows a man trying to escape the reach of Brazil’s two-decades-long military dictatorship as fear infiltrates daily routines. The film highlights colourful street celebrations, historic movie theatres, and waterfront parks to create a sultry, vivid visual identity. Mendonça returned to his hometown, shot ninety percent on location, and wrote scenes for specific places he knows. The film’s authentic settings and tonal contrasts contributed to multiple award nominations.

Read at CN Traveller