Latest news with #Filho
Time Out
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
The Secret Agent
Something stinks right from the off in this twisty, tense, languorous 1970s-set Brazilian drama that captures the absurdity and suffocation of life under a corrupt dictatorship. It's 1977, and middle-aged Marcelo (Civil War 's Wagner Moura), is on the run from the north of Brazil to Recife, where he wants to reunite with his young son. In the opening scenes of The Secret Agent, Marcelo pulls into a remote gas station in his bright yellow VW Beetle. There's a body lying under sheets of cardboard that's been there for days. No one dares do anything about it. The police arrive and needlessly harass Marcelo, trying to take a bribe for some empty reason. The vibe is set right away for a film which brilliantly captures the fear and sheer ridiculousness of a lawless state. The Secret Agent is vicious and vivid in its sense of place and danger. But it also has a streak of weirdness and offers a very human take on the political-crime thriller genre. It also has an explicit film lover's touch, with references to Jaws and key elements of the story set in and around a sweaty, sleazy cinema. There's even a daring and jaw-dropping scene with a severed leg hopping about a nighttime Recife cruising spot that feels fitting and also straight out of another film entirely, like a grim hallucination. The Secret Agent is vicious and vivid in its sense of place and danger But most of the movie, which is written and directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho (Bacurau), feels horribly real. Marcelo isn't an activist or a dissident, but he's living underground because someone wants him dead: he and his wife, both academics, ran into trouble when a politician nakedly wanted to steal and commercialise their work. Now he needs to get out of Brazil. The stepping stone is to go underground and hunker down with a disparate group of outlaws in Recife, while holding a day job at the local public records office, where he's also able to search for documents relating to his late mother. Filho might portray several nasty pieces of work during the course of his story, but this is also a film packed with good, everyday people – not everyone follows the example of the president who we pointedly see in portraits of the walls of government buildings. There are no straight lines or inevitabilities here. Filho takes his time, letting us soak up the steaming hot atmosphere of Recife at carnival time and occasionally cutting between the 1970s and today, with scenes of young researchers listening to tapes relating to Marcelo's story. It's not a true story per se, but it could be – especially as the film's most out-there element, the lively severed leg, is rooted in actual urban myth. It's a vital, transporting, curious film, familiar in some ways but totally unusual in many others.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘The Secret Agent' Clip: First Look At Brazilian Star Wagner Moura In Cannes Palme D'Or Contender
EXCLUSIVE: Brazilian director Kleber Mendonça Filho is back in Competition in Cannes for the third time with 1977-set thriller The Secret Agent, and Deadline can reveal a first clip. Wagner Moura (Civil War, Narcos: Mexico) stars as a technology expert in his early 40s, is on the run. More from Deadline Wes Anderson's 'The Phoenician Scheme' Scores 7½-Minute Ovation After Cannes Premiere, Leaving One Star In Tears Cannes Film Festival 2025: Read All Of Deadline's Movie Reviews 'The Phoenician Scheme' Review: Benicio Del Toro Hilariously Dominates Wes Anderson's Latest All-Star Wes Anderson Movie - Cannes Film Festival He travels to Brazil's northeastern port city of Recife during carnival week, hoping to reunite with his son but soon realizes that the city is far from being the non-violent refuge he seeks. Like Walter Salles' recent Oscar winner I'm Still Here, the drama is set against the backdrop of Brazil's the military dictatorship, which lasted from 1964 to 1985. However, Filho, who hails from Recife, says his film takes a different approach to that period. 'Every time I told people the film would be set in 1977, the first word that comes out is 'dictatorship'. Which is fine, but in Brazilian cinema, and Argentinian cinema as well, there is a sub-genre of the dictatorship movie,' says Filho. 'The challenge was to make a film about the logic of that time without ticking all the boxes of the dictatorship movie. I'm not against those films. In fact, we just had a very strong and beautiful film in Brazilian cinema, I'm Still Here, by Walter Salles, which did wonders for many young people who were not even aware of that moment in history. But with this film, it's very much about the atmosphere, the fumes.' The Brazilian, French, German and Netherlands Film is produced by Cinemascópio, MK Productions, Lemming Film, One Two Films. Paris-based mk2 films is handling international sales. { pmcCnx({ settings: { plugins: { pmcAtlasMG: { iabPlcmt: 1, }, pmcCnx: { singleAutoPlay: 'auto' } } }, playerId: "32fe25c4-79aa-406a-af44-69b41e969e71", mediaId: "3e596380-10b0-4f66-b410-92f50cd4b4b1", }).render("connatix_player_3e596380-10b0-4f66-b410-92f50cd4b4b1_1"); }); Best of Deadline Sean 'Diddy' Combs Sex-Trafficking Trial Updates: Cassie Ventura's Testimony, $10M Hotel Settlement, Drugs, Violence, & The Feds 'Nine Perfect Strangers' Season 2 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Come Out? Everything We Know About Ari Aster's 'Eddington' So Far
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘The Secret Agent' Director On Brazil's Cinema Boom & What Needs To Be Fixed: 'We Have To Clean Up Our Act'
Filmmaker Kleber Mendonca Filho, who is making his third go-round here in Competition at Cannes with the highly lauded The Secret Agent, is elated to be part of a big comeback for Brazilian cinema. But it's not all roses. More from Deadline 'The Secret Agent' Review: Wagner Moura Effectively Plays Man Of Mystery In Brazilian Thriller – Cannes Film Festival Brazilian Comeback: How The Cannes 2025 Country Of Honor Is Following The Success Of 'I'm Still Here' Wes Anderson's 'The Phoenician Scheme' Scores 7½-Minute Ovation After Cannes Premiere, Leaving One Star In Tears Just this year alone the country has hit two home runs with Oscar winner I'm Still Here as well as The Blue Trail taking the Silver Bear Jury Prize at Berlin. As far as the surge in output, peg it to a post Covid ramp-up in production, Filho said. 'We're back with an expressive series of feature films — I have never seen such a diverse cinema,' said the director, 'but that number creates another problem. 'We have to clean up our act,' he emphasized. 'Brazil has to be better organized and has to consider the streaming market.' RELATED: 'I have nothing against streaming, per se, and I'm very pleased that this movie after appearing in theaters and other windows will be seen on streaming platforms.' He advocated for a government policy, particularly when it comes to exhibition. Tickets should be 'at affordable prices. It shouldn't cost you 110 euros with popcorn to see a film. Some films are seen by thousands and thousands, and other films are only screened in movie theaters which are upper class where the chips are scented with truffles.' For some Hollywood studios, despite the immense amount of box office in Brazil for tentpoles, the country's infrastructure of exhibition is in continual need of reshaping to keep in step with its immense population of 212 million. RELATED: Filho's biggest production yet, The Secret Agent, follows a mysterious young tech guy Marcel (Wagner Moura from Narcos), who is returning to a small city in order to get closer to his young son after losing his wife to pneumonia. What he discovers in the film set in 1977 Recife is a town under siege at Carnival time by criminal elements in the country, which is being run by a dictatorship and losing the chance for a better life under the ruling class. Read Deadline's review here. For Moura, the movie repped a chance to make one in his native Brazil, particularly in Portuguese. And of course, there's Filho. 'If he made Little Red Riding Hood, I'd be willing to be in that film,' beamed the actor. For Filho, 'what motivated me most when I made this film is that my country Brazil has amnesia and a loss of memory.' He's specifically talking about the military dictatorship that was in place from 1964-85. 'Compounded by the amnesty in '79 and proposed by the government since 1964, Brazil committed endless acts of violence against its civilian population and caused psychological trauma among the population,' said Filho. 'It became normal to commit all sorts of violent crimes. You could wipe the slate clean with a sponge and look toward the future. It wasn't always nice to talk about certain things. 'I believe we had to speak about these times. This idea of memory and retaining memories is a very powerful theme,' the filmmaker added. 'In the space of a year, Brazil came out with two movies which talk about historic memory of a recent past which has a definite impact on the world today, and our lives today,' Filho said. 'That's what you see in Secret Agent.' M2 is selling the movie here at Cannes. Best of Deadline Sean 'Diddy' Combs Sex-Trafficking Trial Updates: Cassie Ventura's Testimony, $10M Hotel Settlement, Drugs, Violence, & The Feds 'Nine Perfect Strangers' Season 2 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Come Out? Everything We Know About Ari Aster's 'Eddington' So Far
See - Sada Elbalad
09-04-2025
- Politics
- See - Sada Elbalad
Brazilian Minister Resigns Following Corruption Charges
Israa Farhan A Brazilian government minister resigned on Tuesday after facing corruption charges linked to his previous role as a member of parliament. Communications Minister Juscelino Filho announced his resignation to focus on his legal defence. Filho, aged 40, becomes the first minister in President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's third non-consecutive term, which began in 2023, to step down over corruption allegations. Despite leaving his cabinet position, Filho will retain his seat in Congress as a member of a centre-right party. He has denied any wrongdoing, although local media reported that he is accused of misusing public funds intended for road paving projects in Maranhão state for personal benefit. Earlier on Tuesday, Attorney General Paulo Gonet filed formal charges against Filho. However, details of the case remain confidential. The situation marks a shift in President Lula's approach to ministers facing corruption allegations. During his previous terms between 2003 and 2010, Lula often defended ministers accused of misconduct and typically only demanded resignations after formal convictions. In June last year, Lula stated that Filho would have to leave his post if formal charges were brought against him following an investigation by the federal police. Filho has served in the federal government since 2014. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia Lifestyle Pistachio and Raspberry Cheesecake Domes Recipe News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Arts & Culture Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's $4.7M LA Home Burglarized Videos & Features Bouchra Dahlab Crowned Miss Arab World 2025 .. Reem Ganzoury Wins Miss Arab Africa Title (VIDEO) Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Arts & Culture Arwa Gouda Gets Married (Photos)
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Brazilian government minister resigns after being charged with corruption
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — A Brazilian government minister resigned Tuesday following charges of corruption dating back to his days as a lawmaker. Communications Minister Juscelino Filho said in a statement that he left the Cabinet to focus on his legal defense. He is the first Cabinet minister of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva 's third, non-consecutive administration, which started in 2023, to exit after corruption charges. The 40-year-old Filho, who will keep his seat in Congress as a lawmaker of a center-right party, denied any wrongdoing in his comments. He is accused of using public funds allocated for road paving in Maranhao state for personal purposes, local media reported. Earlier on Tuesday, Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet filed charges against Filho, but the content of the case against him remains sealed. Filho's lawyers said in a statement that "the case has no relation to his work at the ministry of communications, where his management — just like in all the public positions he has held — is based on transparency.' The case marks a change in Lula's approach to government ministers accused of graft. The leftist leader repeatedly shielded members of the Cabinet in similar cases during his first two terms in office (2003-2010), often forcing them out only if they were found guilty. In June, Lula said after the federal police accused Filho that he would have to leave the job if the country's prosecutor-general charged him. He has worked for the federal government since 2014.
