‘The Secret Agent’ earns 4 Oscar nominations, boosting Brazilian cinema

Brazilian cinema is experiencing a landmark moment as “The Secret Agent” earned four Oscar nominations on Thursday, including best picture, best actor, best international film, and achievement in casting. The nominations have sparked nationwide celebration, with many viewing this recognition as confirmation of Brazilian cinema’s growing global influence.

The film, which follows a widowed father who becomes targeted by Brazil’s 1970s military dictatorship after confronting a business owner with regime connections, ties Brazil’s record for most Oscar nominations. It shares this distinction with the acclaimed 2002 film “City of God,” which was also set in Brazil.

Director Kleber Mendonça Filho announced that “The Secret Agent” has already reached an audience of over one million viewers. This success follows last year’s breakthrough by another Brazilian feature, “I’m Still Here,” which not only attracted millions to theaters but also won the Oscar for best international feature—a historic first for Brazil.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva celebrated the nominations, describing them as “recognition of our culture and of Brazil’s ability to tell stories that move the world.” He further noted that the country’s film industry is currently experiencing “one of the best moments in its history.”

Both “The Secret Agent” and “I’m Still Here” explore Brazil’s military dictatorship period (1964-1985), contributing to renewed national discourse about this dark chapter in the country’s history when thousands were tortured or disappeared.

The films resonate deeply with Brazilians across generations. Lúcia Espírito Santo, a 78-year-old retired lawyer who lived through the dictatorship, reflected on the film’s authenticity: “What we see in the film happened a lot. People would disappear and you didn’t know why. Friends of mine from college disappeared because they spoke out, they advocated for freedom and democracy.”

For younger viewers like 20-year-old student Sabrina Guimarães, the film provides essential historical education. “Even though we learn this stuff at school, we don’t spend much time on it and it’s not very specific. Feeling like you’re there in the person’s shoes, knowing what was happening at the time is very interesting,” she said after viewing the film.

Mendonça Filho explained that while “The Secret Agent” was created partly in response to Brazil’s recent political turbulence, including the controversial administration of former President Jair Bolsonaro, the film’s themes transcend national boundaries. “The film is very Brazilian, but it’s also universal,” he said. “The theme of power being used to crush people and social classes is a theme that’s current, not just historical.”

Gabriel Domingues, who received a nomination for achievement in casting, compared the current enthusiasm for Brazilian cinema to the country’s passion for soccer, describing it as a moment of “intense emotion.” This sentiment reflects a significant shift in Brazilian cultural identity, with cinema becoming a source of national pride.

Ana Paula Sousa, a cinema expert and professor at ESPM University in São Paulo, notes that these achievements are transforming Brazilians’ relationship with their film industry in a country where movie attendance has historically been low. “People are talking about Brazilian cinema and thinking it’s cool to talk about it. That’s something we didn’t see before, and it’s really great,” she observed.

The back-to-back international successes may signal a renaissance for Brazil’s film industry, potentially leading to more consistent domestic cinema attendance. They also represent Brazil’s growing soft power on the global stage, with its stories and perspectives gaining recognition among international audiences and critics alike.

As Espírito Santo proudly stated: “We’re showing up, stepping onto the red carpet abroad. Brazil is starting to look like a producer of films, of well-told stories.”

The 2024 Oscar ceremony will determine whether “The Secret Agent” can surpass last year’s breakthrough and bring home multiple Academy Awards, further cementing Brazil’s place in world cinema.