Neon has an incredible slate of international films this year. From intimate family dramas like Sentimental Value to the Palm d’Or-winning It Was Just an Accident, Neon has not only picked up some of the best foreign language films of the year, but also the best movies of the year. The Secret Agent is Neon’s recent international film released in theaters. Although the title suggests its premise revolves around action, the film is actually much quieter with subtle character and world-building.

The film follows Armando, played by Wagner Moura, as a technology professor who returns to his hometown of Recife after running into issues with his previous job and is forced to flee his residence. Struggling to blend in with the people of his old hometown, he learns that the town is not much different from the one he just left. Set in 1977, The Secret Agent beautifully portrays Brazilian culture under military dictatorship.

The movie beautifully captures the Recife landscape, with a multitude of wide-angle images of the town that are oozing with life and color. The production design does its fair share of the heavy lifting, bringing gorgeous frames and massive, lavish sets that draw the viewer into the environment in an easygoing manner. With a roughly $5 million budget, it has the look of a major studio film with ten times the budget.

Wagner Moura is excellent as Armando, delivering a quiet, nuanced performance as a man tortured by his past and striving to build a better future for himself and his son, whom he cannot see because of his circumstances. Seeing his pain conveyed through his subtle facial expressions made him an easy character to connect with. Moura also brings a debonair quality to the role, maintaining a sense of power among everyone he interacts with. Although he may not be a super spy like the title suggests, he has the cool charisma and suavity of a James Bond type.

At 160 minutes, the film is less focused on propelling the story forward and more about building out the environment. A significant aspect of the movie revolves around the military and how they controlled a vast amount of Brazil during the 70s. Any opposition to them would lead to imprisonment, provoking fear among their citizens by restricting their freedoms. The third act particularly drives this point home, with a riveting chase sequence around Recife that easily stands among the film’s best scenes. The military isn’t only perceived as threatening, but also as the film skillfully inserts moments of satirical humor around it, making the experience less dull and more lively. While Western audiences may not connect with Brazilian culture as well, the film stays true to it to a satisfying degree.

While the film’s slow-moving nature has its merits, it does come across as a little too sluggish at times. For the entire first half, the film holds back on revealing Armando’s backstory and his goals, making it difficult to connect with what was going on. Once Armando tells how he got into the situation, the pace quickens and the experience becomes much more visceral. A movie like this may improve on subsequent watches, but it’s hard not to feel lost with a first viewing.

The film’s ending also leaves much to be desired, especially regarding Armando’s arc. A big moment with Armando is revealed off-screen during a time jump, leaving a sour taste in the film’s conclusion. After spending nearly two-and-a-half hours with a character, the way they chose to reveal where he ended up lacked the satisfaction necessary for a story on this epic scale. While the final moment wrapped up the film in a satisfying manner and enhanced how the film’s themes of Brazilian history tie in today, this aspect of the script was extremely bothersome.

Despite some significant flaws in the pacing and ending, The Secret Agent is still a rich and well-made political thriller that makes its 70s setting and story feel more than timely. With a compelling lead performance and excellent production values on display, this once again shows Neon’s strengths as a studio pushing quality foreign-language films.

The Secret Agent screened as a Special Presentation at the Heartland International Film Festival. The film is now playing in select theaters.

Rating: 6/10

Oscar Prospects:

Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Casting, Best Production Design, Best International Feature