‘These Authoritarians, They Fight Reality All the Time.’
It’s not unusual for Mendonça Filho to draw connections between the past and present – he started as a film critic, made short films, and then directed a string of well-received movies about Brazilian life, including the documentary Pictures of Ghosts and the features Neighbouring Sounds and Aquarius. His films often feature underdog characters and stories, a trait particularly evident in his 2019 film Bacurau, a unique blend of genres that asked what would happen if a small, rural village was attacked by ruthless outsiders. The result was an energetic, unconventional Western brimming with anti-colonial themes, and it won the Jury Prize at Cannes. However, his latest film, The Secret Agent (which also earned awards at Cannes, with Mendonça Filho and Moura winning Best Director and Best Actor, respectively), is a departure. This Oscar-contending film, set to premiere at the New York Film Festival and open in theaters November 26, is paced more slowly than Bacurau. It tells a more expansive story, and its antagonists are all Brazilians harming other Brazilians. Both films are fueled by a dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs and a worry about how future generations will judge us, themes that Mendonça Filho expertly guides to emotionally powerful and meaningful endings.
