Bearing out Brazil’s place as country of honor at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, Kleber Mendonça Filho’s “The Secret Agent” (“O Agente Secreto”) won the Fipresci Prize in the Official Selection – Competition category, granted by the International Federation of Film Critics .
Set in Brazil under military rule in 1977 and starring Wagner Moura (“Narcos,” “Dope Thief”) , the film delves into themes of political repression, morality and resistance. Known for his earlier films “Aquarius” and “Bacurau,” both of which played in main comoetition at Cannes, Mendonça Filho continues his exploration of Brazil’s sociopolitical landscape with a narrative praised for its depth and ambition.
“The Secret Agent” was hailed by Variety‘s Peter Debruge as a “terrific ’70s thriller” and “dazzling period drama.”
In its assessment of the film, the Fipresci jury explained: “We chose a film that has a novelistic, epic generosity; a film that allows for digression, diversion, humor and character to evoke a time and place and a rich, strange and deeply troubling story of corruption and oppression. A film that makes its own rules, that is personal yet universal, that takes its time and immerses you in a world – the world of military-ruled Brazil in 1977 and the world of good people in bad times.”
“The Secret Agent,” an epic tale which runs nearly three hours, is a multinational co-production involving Brazil, France, Germany and the Netherlands. MK2 Films is selling internationally, and Neon just picked up North American distribution rights.
Further Fipresci recognition went to actor-turned-director Harris Dickinson’s debut “Urchin,” which screened in the Un Certain Regard section. A two-time BAFTA-nominated actor, Dickinson is known for his performances in “Babygirl,” “Beach Rats” and “Triangle of Sadness.”
A harrowing character study of a homeless man named Mike who struggles with addiction, “Urchin” has drawn acclaim for its visceral realism and emotional depth. Variety’s Guy Lodge praises lead actor Frank Dillane for “imbuing Mike with both the kind of wily charisma that makes people want to rescue him and a self-destructive volatility that keeps repelling such efforts.”
According to the jury, Dickinson’s debut is “a powerful first feature that works as a complex character study of a homeless man struggling with addiction. We dive deeply into a cycle of self-destruction portrayed with sincerity, authenticity and genuine empathy.”
From this year’s Critics’ Week, Directors’ Fortnight and other parallel selections, the Fipresci jury selected Momoko Seto’s animated feature “Dandelion’s Odyssey” for special recognition.
The French-Belgian production, distributed internationally by Indie Sales, blends experimental storytelling with animation. Seto, is known for her artistic short films including 2015 Berlin Audi Short Film Award-winner “Planet Sigma.” Next up for “Dandelion’s Odyssey” is a competition screening at Annecy in June.
“In these strange and dangerous times, we believe the most important thing is to find meaning in our choices and to allow ourselves to feel deeply through films that restore cinema’s emotional essence,” the Fipresci jury said. “We reward this film for its unique use of animation techniques blending classical and modern styles, for the quality of its editing and for the power of its message – love, salvation and companionship in the harshest circumstances. A universal message of life’s triumph over the forces of death.”
This year’s Fipresci jury at Cannes was chaired by Australian critic C.J. Johnson and included Mariana Hristova (Bulgaria), Laurent Delmas (France), Eva Novrup Redvall (Denmark), Michael Ghennam (France), Hosam Fahmy (Egypt), Ioannis Rouzaios (Greece), Olga Ruin (Sweden) and Freddy Wong (Hong Kong).
Awards come just hours before the Cannes Film Festival’s main prize ceremony where “The Secret Agent” is in the running for Cannes’ Palme d’Or.