The Secret Agent, the Brazilian political thriller that captured four awards at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, including Best Director, will open in Korean theaters on July 8.
The film arrives with one of the strongest international pedigrees of the year. The Hollywood Reporter hailed it as “a singular masterpiece that resists easy categorization,” while critics have widely recognized it as one of the standout art-house releases of the season.
The Cannes Best Director prize remains one of the festival's most prestigious honors, recognizing exceptional achievement in filmmaking. Previous recipients include François Truffaut (The 400 Blows), Wong Kar-wai (Happy Together), David Lynch (Mulholland Drive), Edward Yang (Yi Yi), and Paul Thomas Anderson (Punch-Drunk Love).
The award also holds special significance in Korea. Im Kwon-taek became the first Korean filmmaker to receive the honor with Chihwaseon in 2002, while Park Chan-wook followed in 2022 for Decision to Leave.
Directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho, The Secret Agent is set in Brazil in 1977 and follows a man who returns to his hometown under a new identity, only to find himself trapped in an increasingly dangerous pursuit. Set against the heat and chaos of Recife, the film intertwines political tensions, erased histories, hidden records, and shifting identities into a suspense-driven narrative.
Mendonça Filho has become a familiar presence at Cannes, with previous features including Aquarius, Bacurau, and Pictures of Ghosts all premiering at the festival. His latest victory further strengthens a long-running relationship with the world's premier film showcase.
At this year's Cannes Film Festival, The Secret Agent prevailed over a competition lineup that included Wes Anderson's The Phoenician Scheme, Ari Aster's Eddington, Chie Hayakawa's Renoir, and Sergei Loznitsa's Two Prosecutors, securing the Best Director prize.
In addition to Best Director, the film also won Best Actor, the FIPRESCI Prize, and the AFCAE Award, completing a four-award haul at Cannes. It has since gone on to collect 102 awards and 160 nominations worldwide, including two Golden Globe wins and four Academy Award nominations.
The Secret Agent opens in South Korea on July 8.
Reported by News Culture M.J._mj94070777@nc.press
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