The Secret Agent: the secret ingredient of Kleber Mendonça Filho’s thriller is that, even though the plot is more than engaging enough, the film is more interested in the flavour of Recife’s 1977 Carnival, where most of the story takes place. It follows a man on the run, back to his hometown, where he clearly has much to hide as he tries to reconnect with his young son and figure out his next steps. But a lot happens at the edges; the film feels much shorter than its runtime, as editors Matheus Farias and Eduardo Serrano give it a phenomenal pace, making it quite entertaining and touching. Wagner Moura gives a subdued but magnetic performance as the protagonist. The supporting cast offers a great variety of great faces, all with fine performances; the standouts are Tânia Maria, as the elderly landlady of the apartment he moves to, and Robério Diógenes, as a brutal police officer. Cinematographer Evgenia Alexandrova’s camerawork is excellent, distinctive without being distracting. Top-notch period recreation, both the production design (by Thales Junqueira) and particularly the flavourful costume design (by Rita Azevedo).