The Brazilian film “The Secret Agent,” by Kleber Mendonça Filho, not only won the award for Best Director at the 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in France but also brought international recognition to Brazilian cinema. Actor Wagner Moura, the film’s lead actor, was also awarded best actor, further solidifying Brazil’s place on the global cinematic stage.
The film by Kleber Mendonça Filho was also one of the favorites to win the Palme d’Or, Cannes’s most prestigious award, but the winner was the feature film A Simple Favour, not A Simple Accident, by dissident Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi.
The Secret Agent had its world premiere at the festival on May 18, where it received a standing ovation that lasted more than 10 minutes, a rare and significant recognition of the film’s quality and impact. On a social network, the Minister of Culture, Margareth Menezes, congratulated Kléber Mendonça and Wagner Moura on the award.
“Two Brazilian giants making history in Cannes! Congratulations to Wagner Moura, Best Actor, and Kleber Mendonça Filho, Best Director, for their recognition at the world’s largest film festival! Brazil celebrates you! Our cinema is experiencing a new era,” wrote the Minister of Culture, Margareth Menezes, on the social network X, echoing the sentiments of a nation proud of its cultural achievements.
Kleber Mendonça Filho was also the director of acclaimed films, such as Aquarius (2016), which had its first worldwide screening at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, and Bacurau (2019). Both were nominated for the Palme d’Or.
During the presentation of Aquarius, the film’s crew, including director Kleber Mendonça Filho, protested the removal from office of the then-President of the Republic, Dilma Rousseff. This protest reflected the political turmoil in Brazil at the time.
On the occasion, when walking down the red carpet, Kleber Mendonça Filho, accompanied by Brazilian actresses Maeve Jinkings and Sônia Braga, as well as actress Barbara Colen, producer Emilie Lesclaux and guests, held signs with phrases such as: “A coup d’état has taken place in Brazil”, “Brazil is experiencing a coup d’état”, “The world cannot accept an illegitimate government” and “54,501,118 votes burned!”.
A few days earlier, the Senate had approved the admissibility of Dilma’s impeachment process, removing her from office for up to 180 days, until the merits of the impeachment were voted on.
Bacurau, by Kleber Mendonça Filho and Juliano Dornelles, won the Jury Prize at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. The film came in first place, tying with the French production Les Misérables by Ladj Ly, a significant achievement that further solidifies Brazil’s recognition on the international stage.
The fictional film is set in a village in the backlands called Bacurau and is marked by the death of a well-known resident, Dona Carmelita. From this episode onwards, the plot unfolds, triggering unexpected events.
Lula congratulates
President Lula celebrated the awards for best director and best actor for The Secret Agent. The President of the Republic congratulated Kléber Mendonça Filho and Wagner Moura for their achievements.
Today is a day to feel even more proud of being Brazilian. To celebrate the recognition that our art has in the world. And to enjoy the happiness of living in a country that has giants of the stature of @kmendoncafilho and Wagner Moura”, wrote the president, who also said that the two awards show that Brazilian cinema “owes nothing to anyone”.
“The two awards that The Secret Agent recently won at the Cannes Film Festival – best director and best actor – show that our country’s cinema is second to none. And that we will continue to delight audiences and critics around the world with films that showcase our talent, our culture, and important chapters in our history,” concluded Lula on his social media profile.
Source: Agência Brasil